학동기 소아에서 복통과 불안 성향과의 관계

Abstract

Purpose : Abdominal pain is very common in children. Children with abdominal pain may have more symptoms of anxiety than community controls. This study was designed to assess the relationship between abdominal pain and anxiety in elementary school children. Method : In July, 2005, I surveyed 1,254 elementary school children (592 boys and 662 girls) whose ages ranged from 7 to 12 years. The degree of trait and state anxiety was compared between the group suffering from intermittent abdominal pain and normal control group according to Korean Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results : The number of the group that had abdominal pain during a recent 12 month period was 709(57%) and the number of the group that had recurrent abdominal pain was 69(5.5%). The number of the group of trait and state anxiety were 116(9.3%) and 63(5.0%). The State-Trait Anxiety score was significantly higher in the group with abdominal pain and RAP than anxiety score of normal control group. The Score of STAI increased in proportion to the severity of abdominal pain, but had no correlation with the duration, frequency, onset time and site of abdominal pain. The proportion of number of group with abdominal pain in group with trait or state anxiety was significantly higher than in group without trait and state anxiety. Conclusion : Abdominal pain in childhood have close correlation with state and trait anxiety, therefore I must consider the psychologic factor such as anxiety in treatment for children with abdominal pain.