| Summary: | 博士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 衛生教育學系 === 95 === Psychosomatic symptoms in children, characterized by recurrent and unidentified physical complaints, are postulated to reflect psychosocial distress and conflicts. In previous studies, the prevalence of psychosomatic complaints in schoolchildren was increasing with age. The purpose of this study was to verify the goodness of fit between empirically observed data and the factors of the psychosomatic complaints (PSC) in children. The model assumed that variables were working on background factors, the family factors, psychosocial factors, social support, and school life. The sample was selected from the school children that registered in Taiwan elementary school in the first semester of 2002. Two thousand seven hundred and fifty-nine children aged ten to 12 years and their care takers completed the self-administered questionnaires. The analysis included a multivariate analysis using the LISREL program.
The results of this study indicated: (1) Mental symptoms were more common PSC in school children. The prevalence was higher in girls than boys. (2) According to other indices of overall model fit and internal structure of model fit, the observed data could be interpreted by maintained model although the value of chi-square was significant (p< .05). Adjustment was thus made, in accordance with the modification index, to delete the unsuitable paths, combine the observed variances and line the error variances of some observed variances. (3)The best predictors of PSC were gender, social support, parent health status, social competence of the schoolchildren, and social economic status. The study results thus confirm that the factors of psychosomatic complaints were multidimensional. .
Based on these findings and conclusions, the suggestions for the aspects of mental health education practice and future research were proposed. Further research using other variables is needed to clarify the relationship between physiological, psychological, and socioeconomic aspects. The application of the same model will be reinvestigated in a sample of pre-schoolchild and adolescents. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify this complex reality. We emphasize that psychological support and social relationship are necessary to reduce psychosomatic symptoms in children.
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