The School Environment as a Source of Somatic Problems in Adolescents

Abstract

Somatic symptoms are a prevalent health problem in children and adolescents. The specific cause often remains unidentified in paediatrics and cases are therefore frequently assigned to psychological aetiology. The most common cause of somatic symptoms is stress which can arise from a variety of areas of adolescent life. One significant factor affecting the mental health and wellbeing of youth is their school environment. The link between somatic symptoms and school has thus far been studied mainly from the perspective of the impact of health problems on academic performance, attendance or relationships with schoolmates. However, we can assume that the school environment and its characteristics can equally be a source of stress for adolescents and thereby also the reason for the occurrence of somatic issues. The main aim of this study is to investigate the presence of somatic symptoms in adolescents and above all, to determine if they can be caused by factors such as attachment to school, school climate, feeling of safety at school, teacher support, and self-academic motivation. To examine the factors of the school environment and the presence of individual somatic symptoms, we used the scales of the Social and Health Assessment (SAHA) questionnaire. Amongst the 1,961 adolescents observed, the most frequent somatic symptom was unspecified aches or pains (65.4%) followed by headaches (59.3%) and rashes/other skin problems (46.8%). Linear regression analysis showed that all examined factors of the school environment significantly lead to the occurrence of somatic symptoms.

Determinants of adolescents’ depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in Northwest Ethiopia: A non-recursive structural equation modeling

“…As the self-rated academic ability of adolescents increases, the levels of depression [adjusted β = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.083,-0.031], anxiety [adjusted β = -0.03, 95% CI: -0.065, -0.006], and somatic symptoms [adjusted β = -0.02, 95% CI: -0.039, -010] decrease. This result is compatible with the study conducted in Iran [ 112 ], and Slovakia [ 113 ] and with other studies [ 17 , 25 , 114 ]. The possible explanation for this might be that students with low academic ability are terrified of negative responses from teachers, parents, and friends, which may lead to fear about their future career, which will lead them to become anxious, and anxiety will lead to depression and somatic symptoms.…”

Depression, Anxiety, Somatic symptom and their determinants among High School and Preparatory School Adolescents in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.Non-recursive Structural Equation Modeling

“…Direct comparison is not possible, since there is no study conducted with adolescents in Ethiopia or outside. But, it is consistent with the study conducted in Nepal among widows [138]. The possible explanation could be an individual with death of beloved, one may consider themselves as worthless without that person, they could have a feeling of loneness and poor social interaction which leads to depression [126] and depression leads to somatic symptoms.…”

“…Self-rated academic ability had a significant negative indirect effect [adjusted β= -0.02, 95%% CI: -0.039, -010] on somatic symptoms; implying that holding other predictors constant, as student self-rated academic ability increased the level of somatic symptoms will also increase. The present study was supported by the study conducted in Slovakia [138]. The possible explanation for this consistency could be students spending half of their day time in school.…”

“…The present study was supported by the study conducted in Slovakia [138].The possible explanation for this consistency could be students spending half of their day time in school. For students with lower academic achievement, interaction with teachers and with their peers will be affected; which leads to anxiety and anxiety leads to a somatic symptoms.…”