Development of the Ghent Multidimensional Somatic Complaints Scale
Open accessAbstract
The present study aimed at developing a new scale that operationalizes a hierarchical model of somatic complaints. First, 63 items representing a wide range of symptoms and sensations were compiled from somatic complaints scales and emotion literature. These complaints were rated by Belgian students (n = 307) and Belgian adults (n = 603). Exploratory factor analyses identified a gastrointestinal, cardiorespiratory, pain, temperature regulation, and fatigue factor. Next, the number of complaints was reduced to 18. Second, the short scale, called the Ghent Multidimensional Somatic Complaints Scale (GMSC), was administered to Belgian students (n = 735), Belgian adults (n = 664), and Turkish adults (n = 222). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that a higher-order model with five first-order and one second-order factor fitted best. Regression analyses demonstrated that the first-order factors were differentially related to anxiety, depression, anger, age, and gender. In sum, the GMSC scale offers the possibility to assess individual differences in somatic complaints from a hierarchical perspective.
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GMSCS is a validated instrument that assesses the presence and intensity of psychosomatic symptoms.
“the Ghent Multidimensional Somatic Complaints Scale (GMSCS) [64], which assesses the presence and intensity of psychosomatic symptoms.”
From Effects of the SmartACT Intervention on Motor and Psychological Variables in Adolescent Athletes: A Controlled Trial Using BlazePod and Microgate. (2025) · cites this paper as [64]
The Measures section (p. 8) says respondents rate how often they experienced each somatic symptom in the past month, from “never” to “constantly.” The Discussion (pp. 14–16) describes the GMSC as a reliable screening tool for somatic complaints. This supports its use to assess symptom presence and frequency, but not the claim that it measures symptom intensity. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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“The scale includes five subscales: pain localized to the head, shoulders and stomach, sensations of cold or heat, cardiac manifestations and fatigue [64].”
- Authors
- Beirens, K., & Fontaine, J. R. J.
- Affiliations
- Ghent University (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Beirens, Koen
- Venue
- Assessment
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-08-21
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 70-80
- ISSN
- 1073-1911 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-3489
- OpenAlex
- W2096342899
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 0.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- biblio.ugent.be
- Locations
- Assessment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- somatic symptoms, scale development, gastrointestinal problems, pain, temperature regulation, fatigue, anxiety, depression, anger, individual differences
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Anxiety Disorders, Belgium, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Major Depressive Disorder, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sex Factors, Somatoform Disorders, Turkey, Prevalence, Young Adult
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