NECK AND SHOULDER SYMPTOMS OF HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS AND ASSOCIATED PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms among high school students and associated psycho social factors. Methods: High school students (718) completed a questi onnaire concerning neck and shoulder pain and psychosocial factors suc h as stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy. A partic ipant was classified into the ''no disturbing symptoms'' group or into the ''disturbing symptoms'' group according to the frequency of the n eck and shoulder symptoms. The sum of mean scores of stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy were compared between these gro ups. Results: Twenty-one percent of the girls and 10% of the boys suff ered from disturbing neck and shoulder symptoms. Stress symptoms and d epressive symptoms were more common among the girls than the boys. For both sexes, the sum of stress scores and those of depressive symptom scores were significantly higher in the ''disturbing symptoms'' group than the ''no disturbing symptoms'' group. Among the girls, the sum of the self-efficacy scores was lower in the ''disturbing symptoms'' gro up than in the ''no disturbing symptoms'' group. Conclusions: Neck and shoulder symptoms are common among adolescents and psychosocial facto rs such as stress and depressive symptoms seem to be associated with t hese symptoms, especially among girls. More knowledge about the etiolo gic factors associated with neck and shoulder symptoms in adolescents may result in preventive programs with the potential for reducing morb idity of neck and shoulder symptoms in adulthood. (C) Society for Adol escent Medicine, 1997.