Somatic symptom load in men and women from middle to high age in the Gutenberg Health Study - association with psychosocial and somatic factors

The purpose of the study was (1) to determine the prevalence of somatic symptoms in men and women in the general population and (2) to identify the contributions of psychosocial factors and somatic disease on symptom reporting. A total of 7,925 participants aged 40 to 80 years underwent medical and psychological assessments, based on the PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire). We excluded 3 items in order to avoid confounding findings: 2 items overlapping with the depression measure (PHQ-9) and the menstruation complaints item which biases sex comparisons. Pain complaints (arms, legs, joints, back pain) affected the majority of men and women, and somatic symptom reporting increased with age. When confounding has been reduced, psychosocial factors (lack of social support, adverse life events, loneliness, depression, generalized anxiety, panic, social phobia) have remained the strongest predictors of somatic symptoms. As shown by the interaction between sex and depression, depression plays a smaller role for somatic symptom reporting in women vs. men. Findings highlight the complex psychosocial and somatic contributions to somatic symptom reporting.