Illness anxiety and somatic health concerns of northern rural Scottish young people

Abstract

Objectives Over 20 per cent of northern Scottish young people from relatively remote areas had indicated health concerns in an earlier survey. This study reports findings of further investigations of concerns related to physical illnesses or somatic symptoms, and bases their understanding within the context of young people's own perspectives. Design Individual, semi-structured interviews were set up in which participants led a discussion of their personal health concerns, and responded to a list of common health concerns generated by their peers. Data was analysed by two independent coders using a framework including the concern topic, cause of or factors related to each concern, and responses made to each concern. Setting Five northern Scottish secondary schools different in geography, community size, local economy, and proximity to an urban centre were selected for participation, and a total of 37 young people (mean age 14.5 and 16.5) from two class levels volunteered to be interviewed. Results Over half of the sample indicated anxiety about physical concerns, symptoms or disease. These included concerns over acquiring serious illness, managing chronic illnesses, managing weight, becoming ill from environmental poisons and coping with common ailments. They were embedded within personal contexts involving other health beliefs, health resources, and social worlds. Conclusions Parameters of developmental adjustment triggered by health concerns were implicit in these discussions. These included the tasks of acknowledging personal limitations, coping with lack of control, choosing between personal and social choices affecting body image and behaviour related to physical wellbeing. Participants did not feel that adult-generated health education agendas have addressed these concerns nor their impact on development, and several suggestions are made to remedy this deficit.