title: Occurrence of neurotic and anxiety disorders in rural schoolchildren and the role of physical exercise as a method to support their treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  School anxiety has become a common problem in children and adolescents. Despite numerous studies, it is difficult to definitely identify the cause of neurotic disorders in school-age children. The objective of the presented study was to assess the prevalence of neurotic disorders in rural schoolchildren and the role of physical activity as a method to support their treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of 123 girls and 117 boys living in rural areas of Wielkopolska. A questionnaire was provided evaluating family status, family relationships, school situation, somatic symptoms related to being at school, and the frequency of physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that over the 50% of children considered the relations with siblings as correct, but also acknowledged that there were a conflict situations in their relationship. Nearly 25% of children indicated an emotional irrelevance with their parents. About 20% of the young people did not like going to school or were afraid to stay there. Over the 50% of children declared somato-emotional problems associated with the being at school. The symptoms of neurotic disorders were more strongly expressed and more common in girls. Analysis of physical activity indicated that only a small group of young people practiced sport regularly, and an even smaller percentage of children exercised with their parents and/or peers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of somatic and emotional disturbances in children may be associated with irregular family and school relationships and low physical activity. It was found that gender had a significant influence on most of the studied parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. hjk12@poczta.fm
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krauss
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buraczyńska-Andrzejewska
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piątek
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sosnowski
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mikrut
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Głowacki
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Misterska
authors.forename: Wioletta
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Żukiewicz-Sobczak
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zwoliński
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires