Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.
Núria Voltas, Carmen Hernández-Martínez, Victoria Arija and Josefa Canals
Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Background: Adolescence is a period of vulnerability regarding the emergence of internalizing disorders such as anxiety. Anxiety symptoms can persist into adulthood and involve negative outcomes. The aim of the study was to examine the developmental trajectory of several anxiety subtypes by gender, in a non-clinical sample of early adolescents over three phases. Method: Using a prospective design, 1514 children (mean-age = 10.23, SD = 1.23) underwent anxiety and depression screening in the first phase. Then, 562 children (mean-age = 11.25, SD = 1.04) participated in the second phase, and 242 (mean-age = 13.52; SD = .94) were followed up in the third phase. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders was administered in all phases. Developmental trajectories of anxiety scores were examined using latent growth modelling. Results: Manifestations of social phobia and generalized anxiety disorders remained stable. Gender differences were found: boys showed a significant decrease in the developmental trajectories of somatic/panic symptoms, separation anxiety disorder and total anxiety in comparison to girls. Conclusions: The data indicate that anxiety symptomatology is a significant clinical phenomenon in school-age children but that it does not increase throughout early adolescence. It is important to identify developmental patterns for anxiety subtypes and in relation to gender.
Trayectoria de desarrollo de los síntomas de ansiedad durante tres años en una muestra comunitaria de adolescentes. Antecedentes: la adolescencia es un período de vulnerabilidad para la aparición de manifestaciones de ansiedad. El objetivo del estudio fue examinar la trayectoria de varios subtipos de ansiedad en escolares, a lo largo de tres fases y teniendo en cuenta el género. Método: utilizando un diseño prospectivo, 1.514 sujetos (media-edad= 10.23; DE= 1.23) se sometieron a un cribado para detectar síntomas de ansiedad y/o depresivos. 562 sujetos (media-edad= 11.25; DE= 1.04) participaron en la segunda fase y 242 (media-edad= 13.52; DE= .94) fueron seguidos en la tercera fase. En las tres fases se administró el Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders. Se calcularon las trayectorias de desarrollo de la ansiedad mediante modelos de crecimiento latente. Resultados: las manifestaciones de fobia social y de ansiedad generalizada se mantuvieron estables. Se encontraron diferencias entre sexos en las trayectorias de desarrollo de la ansiedad somática/pánico, ansiedad de separación y ansiedad total; los niños mostraron un decrecimiento significativo en comparación con las niñas. Conclusiones: los síntomas de ansiedad son un fenómeno clínico significativo en los escolares, pero no aumentan durante la adolescencia temprana. Es importante identificar patrones de desarrollo de cada subtipo de ansiedad teniendo en cuenta el género.
SPANISH
ENGLISH
https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2015.332