title: Anxiety and insomnia as modifiable risk factors for somatic symptoms in Chinese: a general population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims at investigating the stressors that increased the risk of somatic symptoms in the general Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chinese participants (n = 202) were recruited in a population-based household survey. Somatic symptoms were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-15, while potential stressors that increased the risk of somatic symptoms were measured by the Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index and ENRICHD Social Support Instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Structured multiphase regression modeling showed that female gender (estimated coefficient = 1.47, 95 % CI .7-2.24, p < .001), history of childhood adversities (estimated coefficient = .41, 95 % CI .06-.76, p = .023), employed (estimated coefficient = .87, 95 % CI .003-1.74, p = .049), a high level of anxiety (estimated coefficient = .26, 95 % CI .17-.36, p < .001) and severe insomnia (estimated coefficient = .11, 95 % CI .04-.18, p = .003) are significant stressors for increasing the risks of somatic symptoms in the Chinese population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical and psychological symptoms are intertwined. It was recommended that reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality would be helpful to reduce somatic symptoms. These findings help in early identification and treatment of Chinese adults with persisting somatization.
authors: School of Nursing, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F William MW Mong Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR. janetyh@hku.hk.
authors: Janet Yuen-Ha
authors: JY
authors: Wong
authors: School of Nursing, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F William MW Mong Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: Daniel Yee-Tak
authors: DY
authors: Fong
authors: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: Kelvin Ki-Wan
authors: KK
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; Chinese; Insomnia; Risk factors; Somatic symptoms