ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the empirical evidence for familial contribution to each component outlined in the Social-Ecological Model of Health as it relates to pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), as well as the assessment and treatment implications for clinical practice. The prevailing biopsychosocial model of FGIDs suggests that chronic abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms in children occur as a result of varying contributions from, and dynamic interactions among, biological, psychological and social factors. The contribution of familial genetic factors may extend beyond the gastrointestinal system in FGIDs. Children also may inherit a tendency towards a heightened sensitivity to stress and/or anxiety that predisposes them to the development of FGIDs. The children in the abdominal pain and behaviour disorders groups differed in terms of the types of life events endorsed, with children in the former being more likely to have experienced illness, hospitalisation and death.
