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Somatic Symptoms and Anxiety Among African American Adolescents

Hobart and William Smith Colleges, kingery{at}hws.edu

Golda S. Ginsburg

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Candice A. Alfano

Children's National Medical Center

Somatic symptoms are an associated feature of anxiety disorders that have received little research attention among non-White samples. In addition, the majority of previous studies have examined the influence of somatic symptoms in a cross-sectional rather than a prospective manner. This study examines the prevalence of 12 somatic symptoms, the association of somatic and anxiety symptoms (both concurrently and prospectively) with psychosocial functioning, and gender differences in somatic symptoms among a community sample of 114 African American adolescents (57 girls). In all, 83% of the sample reported at least one somatic symptom (some or most of the time within the past 2 weeks), and on average, adolescents reported 2.5 somatic symptoms. Somatic symptoms correlated positively with severity of anxiety symptoms and negatively with aspects of perceived competence. After the initial level of anxiety symptoms was controlled for, somatic symptoms were a unique predictor of perceived competence (at initial assessment) and anxiety symptoms (at 6-month follow-up). Overall, girls endorsed significantly more somatic symptoms than did boys. Findings replicate those of studies with White samples and suggest that somatic symptoms may be a risk factor for anxiety disorders among African American youth.

Key Words: anxiety • somatic symptoms • adolescents • African American

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Journal of Black Psychology, Vol. 33, No. 4, 363-378 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0095798407307041


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Kingery, J. N. Articles by Alfano, C. A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?