Abstract
The prevalence of childhood stress and psychosomatic and emotional symptoms (PES) has increased in parallel, indicating that
adverse, stressful circumstances and PES in children might be associated. This study describes the prevalence of PES in European
children, aged 4–11 years old, and examines the relationship among PES, negative life events (NLE) and familial or social
adversities in the child’s life. Parent-reported data on childhood adversities and PES was collected for 4,066 children from
8 European countries, who participated in the follow-up survey of IDEFICS (2009–2010), by means of the ‘IDEFICS parental questionnaire’.
A modified version of the ‘Social Readjustment Rating Scale’, the ‘KINDL Questionnaire for Measuring Health-Related Quality
of Life in Children and Adolescents’ and the ‘Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire’ were incorporated in this questionnaire,
as well as questions on socio-demographics, family lifestyle and health of the child. Chi-square analyses were performed to
investigate the prevalence of PES among survey centres, age groups and sex of the child. Odds ratios were calculated to examine
the childhood adversity exposure between PES groups and logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate: (a) the
contribution of the number and (b) the specific types of experienced adversities on the occurrence of PES. 45.7% of the children
experienced at least one PES, with low emotional well-being during the last week being most frequently reported (38.2%). No
sex differences were shown for the prevalence of PES (P = 0.282), but prevalence proportions rose with increasing age (P < 0.001). Children with PES were more frequently exposed to childhood adversities compared to children without PES (e.g.
13.3 and 3.9% of peer problems and 25.4 and 17.4% of non-traditional family structure in the PES vs. no PES group, respectively,
P < 0.001). An increasing number of adversities (regardless of their nature) was found to gradually amplify the risk for PES
(OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.98–4.12 for a number of ≥3 NLE), indicating the effect of cumulative stress. Finally, a number of specified
adversities were identified as apparent risk factors for the occurrence of PES, such as living in a non-traditional family
structure (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.30–1.79) or experiencing peer problems (OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 2.73–4.61). Childhood adversities
were significantly related to PES prevalence, both quantitatively (i.e. the number of adversities) and qualitatively (i.e.
the type of adversity). This study demonstrates the importance and the impact of the child’s family and social context on
the occurrence of PES in children younger than 12 years old.
adverse, stressful circumstances and PES in children might be associated. This study describes the prevalence of PES in European
children, aged 4–11 years old, and examines the relationship among PES, negative life events (NLE) and familial or social
adversities in the child’s life. Parent-reported data on childhood adversities and PES was collected for 4,066 children from
8 European countries, who participated in the follow-up survey of IDEFICS (2009–2010), by means of the ‘IDEFICS parental questionnaire’.
A modified version of the ‘Social Readjustment Rating Scale’, the ‘KINDL Questionnaire for Measuring Health-Related Quality
of Life in Children and Adolescents’ and the ‘Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire’ were incorporated in this questionnaire,
as well as questions on socio-demographics, family lifestyle and health of the child. Chi-square analyses were performed to
investigate the prevalence of PES among survey centres, age groups and sex of the child. Odds ratios were calculated to examine
the childhood adversity exposure between PES groups and logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate: (a) the
contribution of the number and (b) the specific types of experienced adversities on the occurrence of PES. 45.7% of the children
experienced at least one PES, with low emotional well-being during the last week being most frequently reported (38.2%). No
sex differences were shown for the prevalence of PES (P = 0.282), but prevalence proportions rose with increasing age (P < 0.001). Children with PES were more frequently exposed to childhood adversities compared to children without PES (e.g.
13.3 and 3.9% of peer problems and 25.4 and 17.4% of non-traditional family structure in the PES vs. no PES group, respectively,
P < 0.001). An increasing number of adversities (regardless of their nature) was found to gradually amplify the risk for PES
(OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.98–4.12 for a number of ≥3 NLE), indicating the effect of cumulative stress. Finally, a number of specified
adversities were identified as apparent risk factors for the occurrence of PES, such as living in a non-traditional family
structure (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.30–1.79) or experiencing peer problems (OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 2.73–4.61). Childhood adversities
were significantly related to PES prevalence, both quantitatively (i.e. the number of adversities) and qualitatively (i.e.
the type of adversity). This study demonstrates the importance and the impact of the child’s family and social context on
the occurrence of PES in children younger than 12 years old.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Contribution
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0258-9
- Authors
- Barbara Vanaelst, Department of Public Health, University Hospital, Ghent University, Block A, 2nd floor, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Tineke De Vriendt, Department of Public Health, University Hospital, Ghent University, Block A, 2nd floor, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Wolfgang Ahrens, BIPS-Institute for Epidemiology and Prevention Gmbh, Achterstr. 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Karin Bammann, BIPS-Institute for Epidemiology and Prevention Gmbh, Achterstr. 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Charalambos Hadjigeorgiou, Research and Education Institute of Child Health, 8 Attikis Str, 2027 Strovolos, Cyprus
- Kenn Konstabel, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
- Lauren Lissner, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 454, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
- Nathalie Michels, Department of Public Health, University Hospital, Ghent University, Block A, 2nd floor, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Denes Molnar, National Institute of Health Promotion, University of Pécs, Gyermekklinika, József Attila utca 7, Pécs, 7623 Hungary
- Luis A. Moreno, GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Lucia Reisch, Department of Intercultural Communication and Management, Copenhagen Business School, Porcelaenshaven 18A, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Alfonso Siani, Epidemiology and Population Genetics, Institute of Food Sciences, CNR, Via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy
- Isabelle Sioen, Department of Public Health, University Hospital, Ghent University, Block A, 2nd floor, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Stefaan De Henauw, Department of Public Health, University Hospital, Ghent University, Block A, 2nd floor, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827