Making sense of children's medically unexplained symptoms: Managing ambiguity, authenticity and responsibility

Abstract

Medically unexplained symptoms such as headache, tiredness and stomach problems are common amongst children and research highlights the potential importance of the family environment in their development and maintenance. The present qualitative study aimed to explore how mothers make sense and manage their child's unexplained recurrent somatic symptoms. Mothers (n=13) with children with headaches, tiredness or stomach problems were interviewed. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Three main areas emerged relating to 'making sense of the symptom', 'impact of the symptom' and 'strategies for coping'. Transcending these areas were three core issues relating to managing ambiguity, authenticity and responsibility. In particular, more ambiguous symptoms were associated with making uncontrollable causal attributions that removed responsibility away from the family. Further, even though the mothers reported coping strategies that may have exacerbated their child's symptoms these were defended in ways to minimise their own potential influence on the symptom and to emphasise its authenticity. In conclusion, mothers' perceptions and behaviours may be counterproductive in the longer term but function in the more immediate term by facilitating a protective relationship with their child.

Families' and healthcare professionals' perceptions of healthcare services for children and young people with medically unexplained symptoms: a narrative review of the literature

“…, Webb et al . , Morris & Ogden ). A qualitative study of 21 UK young people with a diagnosis of CFS/ME suggested that they wanted HCPs to listen to their experiences, although this did not always happen in practice (Richards et al .…”

“…, Hareide et al . , Morris & Ogden ). In one small UK qualitative study of 13 mothers of children with recurrent unexplained symptoms, mothers reported feeling that symptoms were authentic and real, and required medical intervention (Morris & Ogden ).…”

“…, Morris & Ogden ). In one small UK qualitative study of 13 mothers of children with recurrent unexplained symptoms, mothers reported feeling that symptoms were authentic and real, and required medical intervention (Morris & Ogden ). Two European qualitative studies reported that young people with CFS/ME attributed the condition to an undetected physical cause (Jelbert et al .…”

“…Quantitative and qualitative studies also suggest that children's symptoms have a detrimental impact on family life, causing additional personal strain for mothers (Hunfeld et al . , Morris & Ogden ), although no research has been conducted with fathers on this topic.…”

“…, Webb et al . , Morris & Ogden ). Poor communication may lead to misunderstandings between families and HCPs resulting in young peoples' and parents' dissatisfaction with services.…”