SOMATIC COMPLAINTS IN PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF THEROLE OF NEGATIVE LIFE EVENTS, CHILD SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC COMPETENCE, AND PARENTAL SOMATIC SYMPTOMS

This prospective study of 197 pediatric patients with chronic abdomina l pain examined the role of negative family life events and several po tential moderator variables (child social and academic competence, par ental somatic symptoms, and child sex) in child somatic complaints 1 y ear after a clinic visit. Results indicated that (a) among children lo w in social competence at the time of the initial clinic visit, higher levels of subsequent negative life events predicted higher levels of somatic complaints at follow-up; (b) among boys in families with high levels of negative life events, those whose mothers were characterized by high levels of somatic symptoms had higher levels of somatic compl aints at follow-up; and (c) children whose fathers were characterized by high levels of somatic symptoms showed higher levels of somatic com plaints at follow-up, regardless of the level of life events. Possible mechanisms accounting for these findings are discussed.