Socioeconomic Status as a Determinant of Somatic Symptom Disorder Severity

Abstract

This study highlights the effect of socioeconomic status among individuals with somatic symptom disorder. The hypothesis was to find out the role of socioeconomic status in Somatic Symptom Disorder. To test the hypothesis, a cross-sectional survey design was used. A sample of (n=100), in which (n=24) males and (n=76) females were screened with somatic symptom disorder with the mean age range of (18-40 years) (M=2.050, SD=1.94), was collected from different hospitals/clinics of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The demographic sheet was used to assess the socioeconomic status of the participants. A Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8) was used to screen the somatic symptoms in the participants. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA were used. The results of ANOVA showed the mean variance of the lower, middle and upper classes with respect to somatic symptoms. A significant mean difference in the level of socioeconomic status, at the level of p<.05. Post hoc analysis has shown that the lower class (M=25.53, p<.05) have more somatic complaints than the middle class (M=22.70, p<.04) and upper class (M=21.40, p>.05). Further, it was found that lower socioeconomic status has a higher level of somatic symptom disorder than middle and higher socioeconomic statuses. This research may help healthcare providers to control this disorder, empowering patients with somatic symptom disorder to manage their condition in a positive manner.