Abstract
Studies have shown that children with anxiety disorders (ADs) present impaired family functioning and quality of life. We aimed to evaluate family functioning and quality of life among children with AD and healthy controls. Cross-sectional study (survey) at two centers in Turkey. The study group comprised 42 children diagnosed with AD and 55 controls. The Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) questionnaire was filled out by their parents to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms. Family functioning among the children was assessed using the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Parental Attitude Research Instrument (PARI). The children's quality of life was assessed through the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). The children's average age was 10.00 ± 0.21 years in the AD group and 9.98 ± 1.53 years among the controls. There were higher scores on all FAD subscales in the AD group (2.15 ± 0.52; 2.29 ± 0.44; 2.44 ± 0.55; 2.10 ± 0.61; 2.56 ± 0.40; 2.32 ± 0.33; and 2.29 ± 0.47). On PARI subscales, there were significant differences favoring the AD group (p < 0.05), except for democratic attitude. All PedsQL subscales differed significantly between the groups, favoring the AD group. A statistically significant relationship was found between all PedsQL subscales and SCARED scores in the AD group. We found that both family functioning and quality of life among children with AD were negatively affected. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are required to reach stronger conclusions.
Highlights
Anxiety disorders (ADs) usually begin in childhood[1] and they cause serious impairment of academic performance, peer relationships and family functioning.[2]
In many studies focusing on adults, it has been shown that anxiety disorders (ADs) has a negative impact on quality of life.[5,6,7]
58 healthy children without psychiatric, chronic medical or neurological symptoms came to the two pediatric clinics
Summary
Anxiety disorders (ADs) usually begin in childhood[1] and they cause serious impairment of academic performance, peer relationships and family functioning.[2]. It was shown that quality of life assessed through self-reported scales among cases of childhood mental and behavioral disorder is significantly reduced compared with that of healthy controls.[11] Martinsen et al evaluated sad and anxious children in terms of quality of life. They found that internalization of symptoms such as depressive and anxious symptoms was associated with lower self-reported quality of life and self-esteem.[12]. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to reach stronger conclusions
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