[Psychosomatic symptom formation as a health status indicator in early adolescence: behavioral epidemiologic analysis]

(Pszichoszomatikus tünetképzés mint egészségindikátor a korai serdülokorban: magatartás-epidemiológiai elemzés.)

Full Abstract

INTRODUCTION

AND AIMS:
In adolescence, due to the ongoing biological-hormonal and psychosocial changes, the formation of psychosomatic symptoms becomes more frequent. The psychosomatic symptom formation has an influence on adolescents' self-perceived health as well as on their later health and illness related attitudes and behaviors. The main goal of the present study has been to detect the occurrence of psychosomatic symptoms among early adolescents, and to see the impact of psychosocial and psychological variables on the symptom formation.

METHODS:
In the frame of the South Plain Youth Study, the survey was going on among middle school aged students (N = 548, classes 5-8, mean age of 12.2 years). Data were collected by means of self-completed questionnaires which contained items on sociodemographics (age, gender, parental schooling, socioeconomic status of the family), mapping psychosomatic symptoms, and certain psychosocial and psychological variables affecting psychosomatic symptom formation (such as academic achievement, health-compromising behaviors, the lack of aggression control and social comparison). Statistical analyses included chi2 test, student's t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analyses.

RESULTS:
Fatigue proved to be the most frequent psychosomatic symptoms in both sexes which was followed by headache and lower back pain. These latter symptoms were more common among girls (p < 0.001). Good academic achievement was a protective factor (p < 0.05), while the lack of aggression control increased the psychosomatic symptom formation (boys:
beta = 0.37, p < 0.001, girls:
beta = 0.21, p < 0.01). Smoking (beta = 0.24, p < 0.01) and social comparison (beta = 0.16, p < 0.05) were predictors only among girls.

CONCLUSION:
The results draw the attention to the importance of psychosomatic symptom formation in clinical practice. Beyond the difficulties in differential diagnosis, all efforts should be made to start a causal therapy of the latent psychosocial problems so as to prevent the onset of more serious ill health states.

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Author information

Author/s: Pikó, Bettina (B); Noémi, Keresztes (K);

Affiliation: Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Szent-Györgyi Albert Orvos- es Gyógyszerésztudományi Centrum, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Pszichiátriai Klinika, Magatartástudományi Csoport, Szeged. pikobettina(-atsign-)yahoo.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article

Journal: Orvosi hetilap (Orv Hetil), published in Hungary. (Language: hun)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 147 (issue 18) : pp 819-25

Dates: Created 2006/06/20; Completed 2006/07/20; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16784136, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Abdominal Pain - epidemiology
Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology
Analysis of Variance
Arrhythmias, Cardiac - epidemiology
Attitude to Health
Child
Diagnosis, Differential
Diarrhea - epidemiology
Fatigue - epidemiology
Female
Headache - epidemiology

Health Status Indicators
Humans
Hungary - epidemiology
Linear Models
Low Back Pain - epidemiology
Male
Multivariate Analysis
Psychophysiologic Disorders - epidemiology; etiology
Questionnaires
Sex Distribution
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - epidemiology
Smoking - epidemiology
Socioeconomic Factors

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