Epidemiology of psychosomatic symptoms and its effect on the self-evaluation of general health in university students
Pikó, B.; Barabás, K.; Boda, K.
Orvosi Hetilap 136(31): 1667-1671
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6002 PMID: 7637988 Document Number: 442385
This paper reports on the prevalence of some common psychosomatic symptoms as a part of a larger study of health state and health risk behaviour of a medical student population in Szeged. The prevalence of psychosomatic symptoms was considered as a health-related variable. In the study 691 students participated, the investigation was carried out by survey method, using self-completed questionnaire. In both sexes, backache and sleeping disorders were the most frequent symptoms. Furthermore, men reported stomach ache and palpitation in higher occurrence, while in women stress-related headache and chronic fatigue were the most common among the self-reported symptoms. The index of symptoms were significantly higher among women than men (p < 0.0001). Prevalence of psychosomatic symptoms proved an important variable affecting self-perceived health. The literature reviewed by the authors suggests that health state of medical students are significantly better than students of other colleges. Unfortunately, the morbidity and mortality data of physicians show inverse results among other intellectual populations. The authors suggestion is applying standardised method and cooperation among epidemiological teams working on this question.