Citation

Luntamo T, Sourander A, Santalahti P, Aromaa M, Helenius H. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2011; 37(3): 307-318.

Affiliation

Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Child and Adolescent Health Care Unit, Turku City Hospital, Department of Public Health, and Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsr091

PMID

22080455

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To study prevalence changes of self-reported pain, sleep problems, and fatigue among 8-year-old children, and to examine the co-occurrence and associated psychosocial variables of these symptoms. METHODS: 3 cross-sectional representative samples were compared in 1989, 1999, and 2005. The frequency of headache, abdominal pain, other pains, sleep problems, and fatigue were studied. In addition, sociodemographic information and child's psychiatric problems were inquired. RESULTS: The prevalence of abdominal pain, sleep problems, and fatigue, in addition to headache in boys and other pains in girls increased significantly (p < .05) from 1989 to 2005, with cumulative odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) varying from 1.6 (1.2-2.1) to 2.4 (1.7-3.3). All symptoms were associated with each other and with the child's psychiatric problems. However, psychiatric problems did not explain the observed increase in the symptom frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: Finnish children's self-reported pain, sleep problems, and fatigue have increased remarkably. Studies providing information on the causes and prevention possibilities are warranted.

Language: en