Somatic complaints in adolescence

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of somatic complaints in adolescents from São Paulo and to verify the correlation with other emotional problems. Method The study consisted of databases obtained from different surveys carried out from 2004 to 2019, comprising 2,228 Youth Self Report protocols (inventory for tracking behavioral and emotional problems), completed by adolescents aged 11 to 18 years. The focus was on the “Somatic Complaints” syndrome scale. Results It was observed that more girls and High School students check-marked items related to somatic symptoms. There was a correlation between somatic complaints and internalizing behaviors and time of survey completion (newer protocols had more complaints marked than older protocols). Conclusion Physical symptoms should not be ignored when detecting mental health problems. The uniqueness of adolescence requires attention to both physical and mental health.