A symptom perception approach to common physical symptoms.

This study investigated variables assumed to influence the symptom perception process, as well as the sociodemographic variables of age, gender and socioeconomic status, regarding their relation to common physical symptoms. In addition, it ascertained the predictors of two symptom measurement methods (prospective and retrospective). A group of 152 men and women completed a standardized interview as well as several questionnaires and kept a diary for 4 weeks.