Abstract:

Somatization, defined as the expression of psychological and emotional factors through physical symptoms, is a complex psychological syndrome with its predisposing causes, perpetuating factors and treatment. The biomedical model, which explains the causes of diseases via cellular and chemical processes, has been replaced by the biopsychosocial model, which emphasizes that diseases are related to biological, social and psychological factors. This study aims to examine somatization, in which being a woman is considered a risk factor, from the biopsychosocial perspective. The fact that it is more common to observe somatization in women is linked with biological differences in the brain system, hormones and reproductive system. Compared to men, women suffer from mental health issues more, particularly depression and anxiety, and having a high tendency on the neuroticism dimension are physiological factors associated with somatization. In addition to the fact that somatization is more common in non-western societies, it is noteworthy that in male-dominated societies, women have more responsibilities regarding marriage and family, and women’s disadvantaged positions both in society and marriage are recognized as social factors for somatization. While the multi-dimensional nature of somatization emphasizes the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach for an effective treatment, it also underlines the significance of including psychological and social factors in prevention studies.

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