Psychosomatic Complaints and Sense of Coherence in Swedish Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): Simonsson Bo, Nilsson Kent W, Leppert Jerzy, Diwan Vinod K
Primary Institution: Department of Community Medicine, County Council of Västmanland, Västerås, Sweden
Hypothesis
Individuals with weaker sense of coherence will have more psychosomatic complaints.
Conclusion
Adolescents with a weak sense of coherence are more likely to experience psychosomatic complaints.
Supporting Evidence
- Adolescents with weak sense of coherence reported more psychosomatic symptoms than those with strong sense of coherence.
- Girls reported a higher prevalence of psychosomatic complaints compared to boys.
- Lower sense of coherence was associated with a higher prevalence of psychosomatic complaints.
Takeaway
If kids feel like they can handle life's challenges, they're less likely to feel sick in their bodies. But if they feel overwhelmed, they might get more tummy aches and headaches.
Methodology
A cross-sectional school survey was conducted where 16- and 19-year-old adolescents completed a questionnaire during a lesson hour.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may introduce reporting bias and questionable validity.
Limitations
The study is limited to one county in Sweden, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
Participants were adolescents aged 16 to 19 from both public and private schools in Västmanland County, Sweden.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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