[How do somatoform and depressive symptoms and syndromes affect life satisfaction? Results from a representative population survey in Germany]

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the differential impact of somatoform and depressive symptoms/syndromes on life satisfaction.

Methods: In a representative population survey in Germany (N=2 510) depressive and somatic symptoms are screened with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Life satisfaction is assessed with the Questions on Life Satisfaction (FLZM).

Results: Both subclinical depressive/somatic symptoms and clinically relevant depressive/somatoform syndromes are associated with decreased life satisfaction. Depressive symptoms/syndromes result in lower satisfaction in all areas of life, whereas somatic symptoms/somatoform syndromes only affect certain domains of life -satisfaction.

Conclusions: Considering comorbid depressive symptoms/syndromes, somatic symptoms and somatoform syndromes show negative associations with only some of the subdimensions of life satisfaction. A dimensional approach is useful to consider the effects of subclinical symptoms on life satisfaction.