Children's somatization symptoms: Correlations with trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and learning experiences

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to examine associations between trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and learning experiences, on the one hand, and children's somatization symptoms, on the other hand. A sample of 190 nonclinical children completed the trait anxiety scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and the Children's Somatization Inventory, and were interviewed about learning experiences in relation to physical symptoms. Correlational and regression analyses indicated that trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and parents' anxiety-encouraging behaviours in relation to somatic symptoms were significantly positively associated with somatization. These results indicate that there might be common vulnerability factors in childhood anxiety and somatization symptoms.