The Relation of Negative Life Events to Symptoms and Functioning in
Adolescents and Young Adults with a Childhood History of Chronic
Abdominal Pain
The Relation of Negative Life Events to Symptoms and Functioning in
Adolescents and Young Adults with a Childhood History of Chronic
Abdominal Pain
Presentation by: Gerianna Kneeland
Presentation by: Gerianna Kneeland
Chronic abdominal painChronic abdominal pain• Defined as intermittent or constant abdominal
pain of at least 3 months duration (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005)
• Psychosocial factors influence illness in CAP patients
• Negative life events
• Competence may serve as moderator
• Defined as intermittent or constant abdominal pain of at least 3 months duration (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005)
• Psychosocial factors influence illness in CAP patients
• Negative life events
• Competence may serve as moderator
HypothesesHypotheses
• 1) higher levels of personal stress will be associated with poorer patient outcomes at follow-up including more emotional symptoms, somatic symptoms, and disability
• 2) personal competence will moderate the effect of life stress on patient outcomes, such that life stress will be associated with poorer outcomes in patients with low competence compared to those with high competence
• 1) higher levels of personal stress will be associated with poorer patient outcomes at follow-up including more emotional symptoms, somatic symptoms, and disability
• 2) personal competence will moderate the effect of life stress on patient outcomes, such that life stress will be associated with poorer outcomes in patients with low competence compared to those with high competence
MethodMethod
• Recruited from research database
• Telephone Interview
• Online Surveys
• Data analysis assessed by health interview and online surveys
• Recruited from research database
• Telephone Interview
• Online Surveys
• Data analysis assessed by health interview and online surveys
MeasuresMeasures
• SF-36 Health Survey- assesses functioning and emotions of participants
• Child/adult Somatization Inventory-assesses the severity of nonspecific somatic symptoms most commonly reported by children with chronic abdominal pain
• Functional Disability Inventory- assesses the extent to which functional disability limits a child in different activities
• SF-36 Health Survey- assesses functioning and emotions of participants
• Child/adult Somatization Inventory-assesses the severity of nonspecific somatic symptoms most commonly reported by children with chronic abdominal pain
• Functional Disability Inventory- assesses the extent to which functional disability limits a child in different activities
Measures (cont.)Measures (cont.)
• Life Events Questionnaire (LEQ)- assesses negative life events in the past year
• Self-Perception Profile For Adults/Adolescents- assesses perceived global and domain-specific competence
• Life Events Questionnaire (LEQ)- assesses negative life events in the past year
• Self-Perception Profile For Adults/Adolescents- assesses perceived global and domain-specific competence
ResultsResults
• 218 CAP patients
• 12-32 years
• 57.8% female
• 40.7% male
• 90.8% Caucasian
• 7.8% other
• 218 CAP patients
• 12-32 years
• 57.8% female
• 40.7% male
• 90.8% Caucasian
• 7.8% other
ResultsResultsHypothesis #1 (Life stress predicts poor outcomes)
• SF-36 p-value of .001* and ß of -.292
• CSI- p-value of .007* and ß of .188
• FDI- p-value of .074 Hypothesis #2 (Competence moderates effect of life stress)
• CSI- p-value of .035*
• SF-36 p-value of .236
• FDI- p-value of .148
*p<.05
Hypothesis #1 (Life stress predicts poor outcomes)
• SF-36 p-value of .001* and ß of -.292
• CSI- p-value of .007* and ß of .188
• FDI- p-value of .074 Hypothesis #2 (Competence moderates effect of life stress)
• CSI- p-value of .035*
• SF-36 p-value of .236
• FDI- p-value of .148
*p<.05
ResultsResultsFigure 1. The two-way interaction effect of stress and competence on CSI scores
Figure 1. The two-way interaction effect of stress and competence on CSI scores
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
Low IV1 High IV1
High IV3
High IV2
Low IV2
Low stress
Low stress high stress
High competenceLow competence
CSI
SCORES
LimitationsLimitations
• Competence is a self-report measure
• Cross-sectional study
• Life events were assessed for year preceding interview
• Limited generalizability
• Competence is a self-report measure
• Cross-sectional study
• Life events were assessed for year preceding interview
• Limited generalizability
Future directionsFuture directions
• Other factors moderating effect of life stress
• Turn towards a prospective design
• Other factors moderating effect of life stress
• Turn towards a prospective design
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
• Dr. Lynn Walker
• Grace Shelby, doctoral student assistant
• Dr. Craig Smith
• Dr. Lynn Walker
• Grace Shelby, doctoral student assistant
• Dr. Craig Smith
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