The relationship between abdominal pain and emotional wellbeing in children and adolescents in the Raine Study

Authors

Oyekoya T. Ayonrinde
Oyedeji A. Ayonrinde
Leon A. Adams
Frank M. Sanfilippo
Therese A. O’ Sullivan, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Monique Robinson
Wendy H. Oddy
John K. Olynyk, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow

Author Identifier

Therese O'Sullivan

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1003-854X

John Olynyk

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0417-3411

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Scientific Reports

Publisher

Nature Research

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

30832

Grant Number

NHMRC Number : 353514

Grant Link

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/353514

Comments

Ayonrinde, O. T., Ayonrinde, O. A., Adams, L. A., Sanfilippo, F. M., O’Sullivan, T. A., Robinson, M., ... & Olynyk, J. K. (2020). The relationship between abdominal pain and emotional wellbeing in children and adolescents in the Raine Study. Scientific Reports, 10(1), Article 1646. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58543-0

Abstract

Abdominal pain is a common reason for medical visits. We examined the prevalence, gastrointestinal, and emotional significance of abdominal pain in a population-based cohort serially followed up from birth to 17 years. Children and adolescents from Generation 2 of the Raine Study participated in comprehensive cross-sectional assessments at ages 2, 5, 8, 10, 14 and 17 years. At 17 years, medical history, general health, gastrointestinal symptoms, medications, health practitioner attendance, and self-rated unhappiness were recorded. Longitudinal data regarding abdominal pain or unhappiness, from serial questionnaires, were analysed to identify factors associated with abdominal pain and adverse emotional health at age 17 years. Females experienced more abdominal pain than males at all ages (p < 0.05). Seventeen-year-old adolescents with abdominal pain reported a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, being bullied at school, and poorer health status than those without abdominal pain (p < 0.05 for all). Abdominal pain and unhappiness during childhood and mid-adolescence were prospectively associated with recurrent abdominal pain, anxiety, depression and unhappiness during late adolescence (p < 0.05 for all). In conclusion, abdominal pain in children and adolescents associates with depression, anxiety, being bullied, unhappiness and reduced overall health-rating during adolescence. Awareness of these factors may guide management decisions.

DOI

10.1038/s41598-020-58543-0

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.