Predictors of somatic symptoms: a five year follow up of adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Somatisation is common among adolescents. AIMS: To study factors predicting somatisation later in adulthood. METHODS: Self report questionnaires were administered at baseline examination in 1990 to students (mean age 16.8 years) in schools, and by mail five years later. Results are based on the 615 subjects with no serious disease or injury at baseline. RESULTS: Regression analyses showed that in men the level of somatic symptoms in 1995 was significantly predicted by the respective level in 1990 and by relief smoking. In women, the level of somatic symptoms in 1995 was significantly predicted by the respective level in 1990, self esteem, and the number of negative life events in 1990. After exclusion of cases with a long standing disease in 1995, the multivariate results remained materially similar except that self esteem was no longer significant among women. CONCLUSION: These findings may help in early identification of adolescents with somatisation persisting into early adulthood.