Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access

Abstract

The Role of Psychosocial Factors in Children with Recurrent Abdominal Pain

Xinias Ioannis, Mavroudi Antigoni, Nedelkopoulou Natalia, Vasilaki Konstantina, Karagiannaki Ioanna, Spiroglou Kleomenis and Taylor Cristopher

Background: Chronic, recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is common in children and adolescents where it impacts on everyday life, causes absence from school, and leads to frequent medical consultations.
Aims: to establish to what extent psychosocial factors and negative life events can be identified in children with
RAP.
Methods: we investigated 78 children with functional abdominal pain (age 5-14 y). One hundred thirty-one healthy school children acted as controls. Questionnaires were used for to assess psychological symptoms, negative life events and socioeconomic factors. The psychological assessment comprised 3 clinical scales (Depression, Anxiety and Behavior) totaling 35 items and was answered by the parents. Scores were calculated (separately and totally) and correlated with those of controls.
Results: Family movement, economic difficulties and low socioeconomic status correlated significantly with RAP (p<0.05). Children manifested, more frequent anxiety, depression indicative factors (dysthymic depression, attitude derangement) and behavior derangement (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Psychological factors, low socioeconomic status, family movement and severe economic difficulties were found significantly more frequently in children with functional abdominal pain and may well influence symptoms expression in childhood.