A developmental perspective on family risk factors in somatization.
It is widely believed that the family plays an etiologically significant role in somatization. Although research indicates many high symptom reporters come from dysfunctional homes, very little is known about the more specific aspects of daily family functioning that may heighten the risk of physical symptomatology at different developmental levels. Accordingly, we report findings on the relationship between ten dimensions of family-of-origin environment and physical health complaints in 933 children, adolescents, and young adults in junior high, high, and undergraduate school (grades 6-16). Results indicated that certain aspects of family life may combine to heighten the risk of somatic complaints for youth at different developmental levels. The implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are noted.
Terre
L
L
Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City 64110-2499, USA. lterre@cctr.umkc.edu
Ghiselli
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*