Psychological correlates of depression in children with recurrent abdominal pain

To examine the associations between coping style, social support, self-efficacy, locus of control, maternal adjustment, and depressive symptoms in children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) of childhood.

Fifty children with RAP (8-18 years) and their mothers were recruited from a gastroenterology clinic (GI) and community medical practices. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed coping style, social support, self-efficacy, locus of control, maternal adjustment, and psychological adjustment.

Passive coping strategies such as isolating oneself from others, catastrophizing, and behavioral disengagement were associated with more child-reported depressive symptoms. Higher levels of self-efficacy and greater social support from teachers and classmates were associated with fewer child-reported depressive symptoms. Higher levels of maternal adjustment problems, higher social support from parents, and lower social support from classmates were associated with maternal reports of more child internalizing symptoms.

These findings suggest that coping style, self-efficacy, social support, and maternal adjustment are correlates of depressive symptoms in children with RAP.