Regulacja emocjonalna u dzieci i młodzieży z czynnościowymi bólami brzucha

Functional abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints of children who are seen by gastroenterologists. Since this abnormality belongs to the group of psychosomatic disorders, psychological factors are crucial when describing patients. Although the exact cause is not known, emotional functioning seems to be an important factor of functional abdominal pain and the most important are problems in emotional regulation (as research on children seen for stomach or intestinal complaints shows). Relying on research findings, we can attempt to characterize features of emotional functioning in children and adolescents with functional abdominal pain. Its main feature is the tendency to suppress emotions and accumulate tension. Persistent physiological stimulation connected with inexpressed emotions may cause dysfunction within the digestive system. Non-adaptive method of regulating experienced emotions of children and youth seems to be largely associated with the family environment, which preserves such behavior in a child.