The association of psychosomatic health with physical status and lifestyle factors in adolescence

Abstract

The main purposes were to analyse the age pattern of experiencing psycho-somatic complaints in children; to study the influence of physical status and lifestyle factors on psycho-somatic status. The sample (n: 13,331, aged 7-18) represented a subsample of the 2^nd Hungarian National Representative Growth Study. Subjects were divided into underweight, normal, preobese and obese subgroups. A standard symptom list was used to assess the experience of psycho-somatic complaints. Children rated their current health status in terms of excellent, good, fair and poor. Subjects were divided into physical activity subgroups. The prevalence of the psycho-somatic complaints increased with age, girls reported more symptoms than boys. Irritability and waking up tired were the most frequent symptoms. Subjective health status, nutritional status, body image, academic achievement, stature, body mass and socioeconomic status influenced the pattern of psycho-somatic complaints in girls, while physical activity, self-esteem, socioeconomic status and subjective health status in boys.