The aim of this study is to compare the levels of depression, anxiety and somatization of children and teenagers that have come to the hospital due to stomachache, in regards to whether they have physical reasons or not

The aim of this study is to determine and compare the levels of depression, anxiety and somatization of children and teenagers that have come to the hospital due to stomachache, in regards to whether they have physical reasons or not. Additionally, the depression, anxiety, and somatization values will be studied in terms of sociodemographic variables (age, success in school, number of siblings, marital status of parents, and the presence of a physical or psychiatric disorder). The samples of this study are children between 8-15 years of age that have gone to the pediatric service of a private hospital in Batman due to stomachache complaints. In the study, the values of 48 children, where 24 of them have physical reasons and 24 do not have physical reasons. In order to learn the existence of physical reasons in children, we have analysed blood test, full urine analysis and ultrasound results. Finding one reason in at least one of these medical workups, we have formed the group which has a physical reason. In this study, the Sociodemographic Data Form, Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), The Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS), and Children's Somatization Inventory-24 (CSI-24) were used. Results showed that there is no significant difference between depression, anxiety and somatization points of children with stomachache complaint in which there was the presence or absence of a physical reason.While the somatization values of children whose mothers were employed scored higher, the social anxiety values in children with unemployed mothers scored higher. The scores obtained from the scales showed no meaningful difference, when the children's ages, school success, number of siblings, order of siblings, parents' ages, fathers' education levels and employment were compared. The analyses show that there is a positive correlation between the scores for Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale and Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment scores, School Refusal Assessment Scalescores and Children's Anxiety Scale scores. Furthermore, a positively meaningful correlation between Children's Somatization Inventory scores and Panic Disorders/Somatic Symptoms, and also between Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and Children's Anxiety Scale scores. The results of these findings were discussed within the scope of literature. Keywords: Stomachache in children, Somatization, Depression, Anxiety