PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDERS OF EARLY ADULTHOOD

Psychosomatic Disorders of Early Adulthood

Psychosomatic Disorders of Early Adulthood

Psychosomatic problems are common in Early Adulthood, and stress frequently plays a role in their development and maintenance. Armed with an understanding of the stressors experienced by Adults, the individual's vulnerabilities and competencies and their level of social support, the physician can systematically assess each of these factors. Once the assessment is complete, a management plan can be formulated to address the particular psychosomatic problem. Symptom relief, stress reduction, and promotion of competence are important interventions that can be initiated by the primary care physician.

When referrals are made for counseling and other stress management techniques, the primary care physician should maintain contact with the patient and family and remain an integral part of the management team. Incorporating brief discussions about the potential role of stress in health and illness into anticipatory guidance sessions may also help prevent the development of psychosomatic problems in Early Adulthood(Bennett, 2000).

The symptoms of psychosomatic disorders usually begin during adolescence or early adulthood and are characterised by many vague physical complaints. Any part of the body may be affected, although the symptoms and their frequencies vary. Common symptoms among Early Adulthood are headaches, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation, fatigue, fainting, dizziness, sleeping problems, and nervousness. The most frequently seen symptoms among adults should be differentiated from psychosomatic disorders seen among adults.

During the last decade, studies in several countries have shown that the proportion of early adults with psychosomatic complaints (PSC) increased. At present, it is estimated that between 5-10% of Early Adulthood have so severe problems that they affect their daily lives. There are several social and structural factors that contribute to the perceived health among Early Adulthood. One is the family structure. Among early adults who live with single parents, PSC is twice as common, compared to Early Adulthood living in nuclear families(Buddeberg,2000).

The Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study, conducted by the World Health Organisation in 35 countries in 2002, indicates that adults from less privileged socio-economic groups report more physical and psychological symptoms than those from more privileged backgrounds. In an interesting study, the physical symptoms and the psychological complaints in Japanese and Swedish schoolchildren was compared. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of both physical symptoms and psychological complaints suggesting, that there might also be a cultural dimension to the development of PSC.

Current research suggests that psychological coping resources may serve as a buffer against the effects of negative stress on health. Antonovsky has developed a salutogenic model, the sense of coherence that indicates that successful coping with daily stressors is decisive for maintaining good health.

Sense of coherence

According to Antonovsky, sense of coherence (SOC) is a way in which persons control their environment in order to make meaningful action. SOC is a way of seeing the world, which facilitates successful coping with the innumerable, complex stressors that confront individuals in their daily lives. Furthermore, Antonovsky postulates that, "SOC is very explicitly ...