Abstract

Health complaints are rather widespread even in children and adolescents. This paper explores the role of
psychological gender (feminine and masculine) and coping strategies for the explanation of individual
differences in symptom reports. A study with 1.021 children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 showed a significant
relation of the coping variables catastrophizing and anger-related emotion regulation to an increase in symptom
reports almost throughout the sexes and age groups. There were additional influences of a male gender
orientation to decreased symptom reports and of non-pain-related problem solving to increased symptom reports.
These effects were, however, restricted to the male subgroup. The meaning of the results for the current
well-being and the future coping of children and adolescents with their health complaints is elaborated and
discussed.

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