Evaluation of the relation between emotion regulations of children diagnosed with anxiety disorders and attachment, anxiety sensitivity, emotion regulation of their mothers

Abstract

Introduction: The information about the etiology of anxiety disorders are still limited however anxiety disorders are prevalent disorders in childhood. In this study it is aimed to evaluate the relation of emotion regulation and anxiety level of children diagnosed with anxiety disorder with attachment and emotion regulation in the children’s mother and it is also aimed to compare the results with healthy controls. Methods: The study group consisted of 64 children (8-12 years old) diagnosed with anxiety disorder and their mothers. The control group (78 children and mothers) comprised patients of other clinics at hospital and was matched for gender and age to the anxious patients. We evaluated disorder severity at the time of assessment using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). Emotional Regulation Checklist (ERC) was used to examine children emotional regulation. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) was used to indicate maternal emotional dysregulation status, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) was used for anxiety sensitivity in mothers and Experiences in Close Relationship Scale-II was used to evaluate attachment properties in mothers. Results: SCARED child and parent form scores were compared with anxiety sensitivity index, ERC subscales, DERS and ASI with Pearson’s correlation analysis. Positive correlation was found between SCARED child, parent form scores and ERC emotional lability scores, social, physical, cognitive anxiety scores of ASI, maternal anxious attachment and DERS scores and negative correlation was found between SCARED child, parent form scores and ERC emotional regulation scores. There was no relation between SCARED child, parent form scores and maternal avoidant attachment. Conclusion: This is the first study which evaluated the relationship of emotion regulation difficulties of children, who are diagnosed with anxiety disorder, and maternal attachment properties and maternal emotion regulation. The anxiety symptoms may decrease with using cognitive behavioral methods in emotion regulation difficulties of children diagnosed with anxiety disorder.