Empathy, social and emotional competencies, bullying perpetration and victimization as longitudinal predictors of somatic symptoms in adolescence

Abstract

Background: Somatic symptoms are an important adolescent health problem that affects individuals and the society as a whole. Although research focused on somatic symptoms has been very fruitful, studies about their longitudinal predictors are still in their early stages. The present study focuses on the relations between social and emotional competencies, empathy and bullying, and the presence of somatic symptoms concurrently and one year later.

Method: The sample consisted of 384 Spanish adolescents, who participated in a longitudinal study with a one-year follow-up. Validated questionnaires were used to assess social and emotional competencies, bullying, empathy and somatic complaints.

Results: High scores in social and emotional competencies were related to low scores in somatic symptoms one year later. High affective empathy predicted more somatic symptoms concurrently and one year later. Bullying victimization was related to more somatic symptoms concurrently and one year later.

Limitations: Other-reports could be useful to further validate the results obtained with self-reports. Non-linear relations could be tested. Representative samples could be used in future studies.

Conclusions: These results suggest that it may be important to promote social and emotional competencies and reduce bullying to decrease somatic symptoms. More studies are needed to understand the impact of high affective empathy on somatic symptoms.

Keywords: Bullying; Empathy; Social and emotional competencies; Somatic symptoms.