Frequent abdominal pain in children may be associated with school-related stress, peer harassment
Many parents feel reassured when their child's recurrent abdominal pain is investigated and no underlying organic condition is found. However, a study by researchers at Semmelweis University, published in the International Journal of Pediatrics, suggests that this may be when it is worth asking a few further questions: Does the child experience pain elsewhere in the body? Has the pain persisted…
A study from Semmelweis University found that abdominal pain in children could be linked to school-related stress and peer harassment. The research, which analyzed data from 522 Hungarian schoolchildren aged 11 to 18, revealed that 80.6% of adolescents with functional abdominal pain disorders experienced pain at multiple body sites, and 54.8% reported their primary pain site outside the abdomen.
Headache was the most common additional pain, while joint and back pain were also reported. Over half of those affected had symptoms lasting at least a year.
The researchers suggest that a persistent pain disorder may develop if the initial pain trigger, such as an infection or inflammation, is not resolved and is accompanied by stress, anxiety, or other psychological strain. This could lead to an oversensitive pain-processing system that remains active even after the original trigger has subsided. Normal bodily processes, such as digestion after a meal, may also become painful for these individuals.
Adolescents with functional abdominal pain disorders were more likely to report feeling overwhelmed by school assessments, lack of peace and quiet in the classroom, or unfair treatment from teachers. They also experienced higher rates of peer exclusion and harassment. The study found that these adolescents scored significantly worse across various health-related quality of life measures, including physical, emotional, social, and school functioning. More than 14% of the affected adolescents had extremely low overall quality of life scores.
Verbal harassment, such as teasing or name-calling, was particularly associated with extremely low quality of life scores. These students also missed more days of school and were more likely to use regular pain medication. The researchers emphasize the importance of addressing these symptoms seriously, as untreated pain may persist into adulthood, affecting quality of life, employment, and in severe cases, leading to early disability.
Parents should not dismiss these issues, as the underlying factors responsible for the pain often do not resolve on their own. Treatment, which may include changing schools or psychotherapy, can significantly improve outcomes. Early intervention can reduce the likelihood of persistent or recurrent pain in adulthood.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
