Abstract
The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence, co-occurrence, and psychosocial determinants of self-perceived headache,
abdominal pain, and sleep problems among adolescents. The adolescents from two cities in Finland (n = 2,215, 90.9% of the target population) attending 7th and 9th grade (age range 13–18 years) participated in the cross-sectional
survey inquiring about frequency of headache, abdominal pain, sleep problems, and psychosocial difficulties. The 6-month prevalence
of weekly headache was 13%, abdominal pain 6%, and sleep problems 27%. All three symptoms were strongly associated with each
other. Of the adolescents suffering from one symptom, 32% reported one co-occurring symptom and 17% two co-occurring symptoms.
In the multivariate analysis, female gender, experience of psychological difficulties, emotional symptoms, smoking, victimization,
and feeling not cared about by teachers were independently associated with all the individual symptoms, as well as an increasing
number of symptoms. Sleep problems were associated with older age and peer and alcohol problems. Abdominal pain was associated
with conduct problems, and both headache and abdominal pain were linked with immigration background. An increasing number
of symptoms was associated with older age, having a chronic illness, and conduct and alcohol problems. Adolescents’ headache,
abdominal pain and sleep problems were common and often co-occurred. An increasing frequency of each symptom and number of
symptoms were associated with psychosocial factors in a similar way. Screening for psychiatric symptoms, substance use, victimization
and difficulties with teachers should be included in the assessment of adolescents who suffer from recurrent headache, abdominal
pain or sleep problems.
abdominal pain, and sleep problems among adolescents. The adolescents from two cities in Finland (n = 2,215, 90.9% of the target population) attending 7th and 9th grade (age range 13–18 years) participated in the cross-sectional
survey inquiring about frequency of headache, abdominal pain, sleep problems, and psychosocial difficulties. The 6-month prevalence
of weekly headache was 13%, abdominal pain 6%, and sleep problems 27%. All three symptoms were strongly associated with each
other. Of the adolescents suffering from one symptom, 32% reported one co-occurring symptom and 17% two co-occurring symptoms.
In the multivariate analysis, female gender, experience of psychological difficulties, emotional symptoms, smoking, victimization,
and feeling not cared about by teachers were independently associated with all the individual symptoms, as well as an increasing
number of symptoms. Sleep problems were associated with older age and peer and alcohol problems. Abdominal pain was associated
with conduct problems, and both headache and abdominal pain were linked with immigration background. An increasing number
of symptoms was associated with older age, having a chronic illness, and conduct and alcohol problems. Adolescents’ headache,
abdominal pain and sleep problems were common and often co-occurred. An increasing frequency of each symptom and number of
symptoms were associated with psychosocial factors in a similar way. Screening for psychiatric symptoms, substance use, victimization
and difficulties with teachers should be included in the assessment of adolescents who suffer from recurrent headache, abdominal
pain or sleep problems.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Contribution
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0261-1
- Authors
- Terhi Luntamo, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 1/Varia, 20014 Turun Yliopisto, Finland
- Andre Sourander, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 1/Varia, 20014 Turun Yliopisto, Finland
- Maria Rihko, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 1/Varia, 20014 Turun Yliopisto, Finland
- Minna Aromaa, Child and Adolescent Health Care Unit, Turku City Hospital, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 30, 20700 Turku, Finland
- Hans Helenius, Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 1, 20014 Turun Yliopisto, Finland
- Merja Koskelainen, Department of Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University Hospital, Aurora Hospital A20, PL 348, 00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland
- Patrick J. McGrath, IWK Health Centre, 5850/5980 University Avenue, P.O. Box 9700, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827