The association between parental chronic physical illness and adolescent functional somatic symptoms.

Background: Previous studies have found that adolescents with a chronically ill parent may experience more internalizing problems. It is less clear if this association is sex-related, and whether it is specific for functional somatic symptoms (FSSs) or concerns other internalizing or externalizing problems.

Methods: In a prospective cohort of adolescents, oversampled on emotional and behavioral problems (n = 841; mean age 14.