Somatic complaints and their relationship with depressive symptoms among adolescent girls: a descriptive study

Abstract

Background: Physical symptoms of unknown aetiology are common in children and adolescents. Depression in this developmental age causes significant interpersonal and psychosocial problems including the risk for suicide. Objectives: Main objectives were to assess the somatic complaints and depressive symptoms of adolescent girls and to identify the relationship between these variables. Association between somatic complaints/depressive symptoms and selected socio personal variables was also analysed. Methods: A descriptive survey design was used in this study with a sample of 250 adolescent girls. The tools used for the data collection included a questionnaire to collect socio-personal data, an adapted version of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15) for assessing somatic complaints and Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS) for assessing the depressive symptoms. The study was conducted among students of selected government schools of Kozhikode district of Kerala. Results: The results showed that about 1.6% had a high level of somatic complaints, 4% had medium and 40.4% had low somatic complaints. 15.2% of the participants were having depressive symptoms. The study found a significant positive correlation between somatic complaints and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Screening for somatic complaints among adolescent girls help in the identification of depression in adolescent girls.

Effectiveness of Educational Package Regarding Knowledge of Somatic Symptom Disorders among Adolescent Girls- A Pre- Experimental Study

“…Association between Somatic complaints/depressive symptoms and selected socio personal variables was also analysed. The study found a significant positive correlation between Somatic complaints and depressive symptoms 23 .…”

Mental Health and Physical Activity of Female Higher Education Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study from Lithuania

“…Additionally, theories have been pursued to elucidate the mechanisms underlying somatic symptoms in EA individuals, such as the stress-leading process and its impact on pain and other complaints [ 123 ]. Thus, while somatic complaints in the student-age population may be related to depression and anxiety, nowadays the management of EA individuals, especially women with unexplained somatic symptoms, is still challenging [ 124 ]. Identification and psychological care may help to avoid somatisation disorder in terms of the full-blown form and long-term mental health problems.…”