Anxiety Inventory For Children Research Articles

Роль корекції психоемоційних розладів у пацієнтів із лійкоподібною деформацією грудної клітки

Pectus excavatum (PE) is the most common congenital chest deformities. For many patients, this defect caused significant psychological stress which occurs in adolescence and lead to anxiety, low self-esteem and withdrawal from social activities, which significantly affects the quality of life. The need of surgery often accompanied by a patient’s psychological trauma, especially for children. Purpose - to evaluate the role of correction of psycho-emotional disorders in children with PE before surgical intervention to improve treatment results. Materials and methods. Assessment of preoperative anxiety in 28 children aged 10 to 17 years was carried out. The Group I included 11 children who were psychologically ready for surgery, the Group II included 17 children who needed the help of a psychologist. Assessment was performed using the Preoperative Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC). Psychotherapeutic correction included: information support, relaxation and physical exercises, game and art therapy. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0. Results. After the preliminary survey, most of the children who agreed to the operation had a low or moderate level of anxiety, while the children who needed psychological help had a high level of anxiety. Before psychological correction, according to the results of the STAIC questionnaire, 64.3% of patients had a high level of situational anxiety and a high score of personal anxiety. After completing the course of psychological correction, personal anxiety in 57.1% of children decreased to a low level. Conclusions. Psychological therapy reduces psychological, psychosomatic and psychophysiological symptoms in patients, helps patients prepare for surgery. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The research protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. Informed consent of the patients was obtained for the research. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

The Efficacy of Virtual Reality Game Preparation for Children Scheduled for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Procedures (IMAGINE): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundIt is known that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures generate fear and anxiety. Children may become restless during scanning, which results in movement artifacts requiring the MRI procedure to be repeated with sedation. Few studies seem to have looked at the effect of immersive virtual reality (IVR) on anxiety in children scheduled for MRI scans and how to identify which children are more responsive.ObjectiveThe aims of this study are 3-fold: develop an algorithm of predictability based on biofeedback, address feasibility and acceptability of preprocedural IVR game preparation for anxiety management during MRI procedures, and examine the efficacy of IVR game preparation compared with usual care for the management of procedural anxiety during MRI scans.MethodsThis study will have 2 phases. We will first conduct a field test with 10 participants aged 7 to 17 years to develop a predictive algorithm for biofeedback solution and to address the feasibility and acceptability of the research. After the field test, a randomized controlled trial will be completed using a parallel design with 2 groups: an experimental group (preprocedural IVR game preparation) and a usual care group (standard care as per the radiology department’s protocol) in an equal ratio of 49 participants per group for 98 participants. Recruitment will be carried out at a hospital in Quebec, Canada. The experimental group will receive a preprocedural IVR game preparation (IMAGINE) that offers an immersive simulation of the MRI scan. Participants will complete a questionnaire to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and incidence of side effects related to the intervention and the biofeedback device. Data collected will include sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as well as measures of procedure-related anxiety with the French-Canadian version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (score 1-3) and the Children’s Fear Scale (score 0-4). Physiological signs will be noted and include heart rate, skin conductance, hand temperature, and muscle tension. Measures of the level of satisfaction of health care professionals, parents, and participants will also be collected. Analyses will be carried out according to the intention-to-treat principle, with a Cronbach α significance level of .05.ResultsAs of May 10, 2022, no participant was enrolled in the clinical trial. The data collection time frame is projected to be between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.ConclusionsOur study provides an alternative method for anxiety management to better prepare patients for an awake MRI procedure. The biofeedback will help predict which children are more responsive to this type of intervention. This study will guide future medical practice by providing evidence-based knowledge on a nonpharmacological therapeutic modality for anxiety management in children scheduled for an MRI scan.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04988516; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04988516International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/30616

School Functioning and Educational Aspirations in Adolescents With Social Anxiety-The Young-HUNT3 Study, Norway.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) typically emerges during childhood or early adolescence and often has long-term effects on several areas of an individual's life, including school and education. The purpose of this study is to examine whether social anxiety is associated with (1) school functioning in terms of behavioral difficulties (hyperactivity and/or attention problems), school dissatisfaction, social exclusion, truancy, and learning difficulties, and (2) educational aspirations (educational level). We use data from the population-based Young-HUNT3 study (2006–2008), where 8,199 Norwegian adolescents participated. Social anxiety is measured both as self-report [the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C)], and as screening information from diagnostic interviews [Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule for DSM IV: child version (ADIS-C)]. ADIS-C screening positives (n = 388) reported higher rates of behavioral difficulties (RR = 1.06), school dissatisfaction (RR = 1.15), social exclusion (RR = 1.24), truancy (RR = 1.05), and learning difficulties (RR = 1.10) compared to screened negatives. Self-reported social anxiety symptoms showed similar patterns. Further, higher mean scores of self-reported social anxiety symptoms and being ADIS-C screening positive were negatively associated with aspirations of higher education (OR = 0.92 and OR = 0.74, respectively). However, as regards to having aspirations for the future (aspirations of higher education and/or aspirations of vocational training), no associations were found. The results indicate that social anxiety in adolescence is related to unfavorable/poorer school functioning and lower tendency of aspirations of higher education, which may have consequences for future educational pathways and later work life.

Separation Individuation and Transitional Object Use in Daily Smoker Adolescents

Background Smoking is an important problem in adolescence. Early developmental trajectories are also associated with cigarette smoking. Objectives The present study aims to evaluate the separation-individuation process and use of transitional objects in daily smoker adolescents. Method The research included 97 adolescents who were daily smokers and 210 adolescents who were nonsmokers. Transitional object assessment questionnaire, strength and difficulties questionnaire- adolescent form(SDQ), children’s depression inventory(CDI) and state-trait anxiety inventory for children(STAI-C), separation and individuation test of adolescence(SITA) were applied. Results SITA subscales scores of engulfment anxiety, need denial, and rejection expectancy was higher and separation anxiety, teacher enmeshment, nurturance seeking scores were statistically significantly lower in smoker adolescents than nonsmokers. In logistic regression analysis, separation anxiety(odds ratio [OR] 0.93; 95% confidence interval[CI] 0.87-0.98), teacher enmeshment(OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.88-0.98), practicing mirroring(OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02,1.08) and rejection expectancy (OR 1.06 95% CI 1.02,1.11) were found to be predictors of daily smoking. The use of a childhood transitional object for feeling tired and the use of an adolescent transitional object for feeling anxious and tired was found to be significantly higher in smokers. Conclusions There are some differences in the process of separation-individuation and the use of transitional objects in the smoker group. This suggests that early developmental characteristics may be associated with smoking. Further studies are needed to better understand the causal relationship between smoking and the separation-individuation process and transitional object use.

Betrayed by the nervous system: a comparison group study to investigate the \u2018unsafe world\u2019 model of selective mutism

The study presented in the following verifies some assumptions of the novel ‘unsafe world’ model of selective mutism (SM). According to this model, SM is a stress reaction to situations erroneously experienced via cognition without awareness as ‘unsafe’. It assumes a high sensitivity to unsafety, whereby the nervous system triggers dissociation or freeze mode at relatively low thresholds. We examine whether there is a correlation between SM, sensory-processing sensitivity and dissociation. We compared a sample of 28 children and adolescents with SM (mean age 12.66 years; 18 females) to 33 controls without SM (mean age 12.45 years; 21 females). Both groups were compared using a medical history sheet, the ‘Selective Mutism Questionnaire’ (SMQ), a ‘Checklist for Speaking Behaviour’ (CheckS), the ‘Highly Sensitive Person Scale’ (HSPS), the ‘Child Dissociative Checklist’ (CDC), the ‘Adolescent Dissociative Experience Scale’ (A-DES) and the ‘Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children’ (SPAIK). Appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests were conducted to examine differences between groups. The results indicate that sensory-processing sensitivity was significantly higher in the group of children and adolescents with SM [X2(1) = 7.224, p = 0.0007; d = 1.092]. Furthermore, dissociative symptoms were more common in children and adolescents with SM than in controls [F(1, 33) = 13.004, p = 0.001; d = 0.986]. The results indicate that sensory-processing sensitivity and dissociation are important factors of SM that may hold important implications for the treatment.Trial Registration This study is registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04233905.

BMI status and associations between affect, physical activity and anxiety among U.S. children during COVID-19.

SummaryBackgroundThere is concern regarding how the COVID‐19 pandemic may impact the psychological and physical health of children, but to date, studies on mental health during the pandemic in children are limited. Furthermore, unprecedented lifestyle stressors associated with the pandemic may aggravate the childhood obesity epidemic, but the role of BMI on child activity levels and psychological outcomes during COVID‐19 is unknown.ObjectivesWe investigated how emotional responses (positive/negative affect), physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviours related to anxiety among U.S. children with healthy weight and overweight/obesity during the pandemic.MethodsSixty‐four typically developing children (63% girls, 53% healthy weight) aged 9 to 15 years completed two virtual visits during the height of ‘stay‐at‐home’ measures from April 22 to July 29, 2020. Children completed 24‐hours PA recalls, state portion of State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children and the 10‐item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children.ResultsIndependent of child BMI status, child anxiety scores were over five standard deviations greater than normative values from paediatric populations prior to the pandemic. Higher positive affect and PA were each associated with reduced anxiety levels in children with overweight/obesity, whereas higher positive affect was associated with reduced anxiety in children with healthy weight. Greater leisure screen time was associated with higher negative affect irrespective of child BMI status.ConclusionsThese associations highlight the potential mental health benefits of maintaining positive affect, engaging in PA and limiting leisure screen time for children during the pandemic and suggest that these associations may be particularly relevant for children with overweight/obesity.

Effect of Storytelling on Preoperative Anxiety and Fear among Children Undergoing Surgery

Background: Children who are faced with surgical operations may experience anxiety, panic and fear before surgery and they are needed to both physical and psychological preparation. Aim of the study: Evaluate the effect of storytelling on preoperative anxiety and fear among children undergoing surgery. Design: Quasi-experimental research design was utilized in the current study. Subjects: 100 children from 4-8 years were equally and randomly assigned into two groups, the first was the control group and the second was storytelling intervention group. Setting: The current study was conducted at the General Pediatric Surgical Unit at Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital (CUSPH). Tools: an Interview Structured Questionnaire was developed by the researchers, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, and Children's Fear Scale was utilized for collecting the data. Results: Preoperative anxiety scores and fear were lower among children after storytelling intervention than before. Highly statistically significant differences were detected between the total mean score of anxiety scores and fear in the pretest and posttest before surgery (P=0.000). Conclusion: Storytelling method is an effective distraction technique for reducing preoperative anxiety and fear among children undergoing surgery compared to children in the control group who received routine hospital care. Recommendations: Application of the storytelling technique as non- pharmacological management beside routine hospital programs for children undergoing surgery is recommended among nurses who care children in order to reduce preoperative anxiety, panic and fear level.

Use of Audiobooks as an Environmental Distractor to Decrease State Anxiety in Children Waiting in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Pilot and Feasibility Study.

Objectives: Anxiety and anticipatory stressors are commonly experienced by children visiting the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED), but little research exists that addresses the efficacy of interventions to decrease this stress. This one-sample pretest-postest pilot study gathered preliminary data on the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing audiobooks to reduce fear and state anxiety in children in the PED.Methods: Participants were 131 children in kindergarten through 8th grade (M = 9.4 years, 54% female), triaged urgent or emergent, presenting to the PED. Participants self-reported fear (Children's Fear Scale) and state anxiety (modified State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children; mSTAIC) before and after listening to an age-appropriate audiobook (two options). Data regarding patient experience were also collected. Paired samples t-test was used to examine pre–post intervention changes in fear and state anxiety.Results: Significant, albeit small, improvements in fear and the mSTAIC states of nervous, calm, happy, and relaxed were found after use of the audiobook (Cohen's dz = 0.22–0.35). Small, yet significant correlations were found between child age/grade level and improvements in fear and in the mSTAIC states of scared and relaxed, suggesting that the audiobook was more beneficial for older participants. Over 60% of participants liked the audiobook content “a lot” as well as enjoyed listening to the audiobook “a lot.” Without prompting, 15% of participants requested to listen to an additional audiobook.Conclusions: Listening to an audiobook is feasible and could be effective in decreasing fear and state anxiety for children during a waiting period in the PED. The technology is low-cost, simple, and portable. The results of this study should be interpreted with prudence due to the lack of a control group and results that, although significant, were modest based on effect size conventions; future studies should explore the impact of audiobooks on patient stress with an expanded sample size and control group.

Estado y rasgo de ansiedad en escolares y adolescentes colombianos con y sin desórdenes gastrointestinales funcionales

Introducción: la fisiopatología de los desórdenes gastrointestinales funcionales (DGF) incluye un eje intestino-cerebro alterado.
 Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia y posibles asociaciones de ansiedad en niños con DGF.
 Metodología: estudio de prevalencia realizado en ciudades colombianas en niños entre 8 y 18 años a quienes se les identificaron DGF según los Criterios de Roma III y ansiedad por medio del State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. Se incluyeron variables sociodemográficas y familiares. El análisis estadístico incluyó medidas de tendencia central, análisis uni- y multivariados, y regresión logística, teniendo en cuenta una p < 0,05 como significativa.
 Resultados: se incluyeron 1496 niños, 12,7 ± 2,1 años, 50,5 % niñas, 79,9 % con ansiedad transitoria y 51,5 % con tendencia a experimentar estados de ansiedad. Hubo predominio para el estado-ansiedad en adolescentes masculinos y para el rasgo-ansiedad en adolescentes femeninas con algún DGF. Los posibles factores de riesgo fueron la edad y el sexo para estado-ansiedad, y la edad, el sexo y los DGF para el rasgo-ansiedad.
 Conclusiones: cerca de la mitad de los niños tuvo tendencia a presentar estados de ansiedad, con predominio de las adolescentes femeninas y con factores de riesgo como la edad, el sexo y tener algún DGF.

831-P: Children at Increased Risk for Type 1 Diabetes Using a Study Educational Tool Have Better Understanding of Genetic Risk: The TEDDY Study

The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) is an international study of 8,676 children from birth to age 15 at increased genetic risk for type 1 diabetes. Before the 10-year study visit, children received a book explaining their increased genetic risk for type 1 diabetes and TEDDY study aims. We compared children who read the book to those who did not read the book on their (1) type 1 diabetes risk perception accuracy, (2) anxiety about their increased risk for type 1 diabetes (using a modified version of Spielberg State Anxiety Inventory for children), (3) actions intended to prevent diabetes, and (4) study satisfaction. Overall, 2064/3306 (62%) children read the book; girls, children from two parent families, and Swedish and Finnish children (all p<0.001) were more likely to read the book. Using generalized linear modeling we examined differences in those who read versus did not read the book on child outcome measures while controlling for demographic (e.g., parent education, first-degree relative with diabetes, child sex) and parent measures (e.g., parent risk perception, anxiety, study satisfaction). Children who read the book had more accurate risk perception (read book = 30% accurate versus 24% accurate; OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.19-1.68, p<0.001) and greater TEDDY study satisfaction measured on a 0-2 scale (average treatment difference = 0.10, 95% CI=0.07-0.13, p<0.001) compared to those who did not read the book. No significant group differences in anxiety or behaviors to prevent diabetes occurred. In conclusion, the use of an educational tool is well accepted, is not related to increased child anxiety about diabetes, and is related to greater child diabetes risk perception accuracy and study satisfaction. However, even after reading the book, 70% of children had inaccurate diabetes risk perception, suggesting additional strategies are needed. Findings have implications for retention and education in long-term research cohorts. Disclosure L.B. Smith: None. R. Tamura: None. R. Karban: None. J. Melin: None. Å.E. Wimar: None. M. Gardiner: None. K.A. Driscoll: None. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; JDRF; National Institutes of Health/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (UL1TR000064, UL1TR001082)

Associations between the Mismatch-negativity Potential and Symptom Severity in Medication-naïve Children and Adolescents with Symptoms of Attention Deficit/hyperactivity Disorder.

ObjectiveThe mismatch negativity (MMN) event-related potential is an index of the pre-attentive stage of neural auditory information processing and an electrophysiological signal indicative of the integrity of auditory information processing with regard to the attention deficit symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We investigated the association between the MMN amplitude and latency in frontal brain regions and symptom severity in children with ADHD and subclinical ADHD symptoms.MethodsThis study included 29 children: 16 (10 boys; mean age, 13.06 ± 3.67 years) with ADHD (ADHD group) and 13 (eight boys; mean age, 13.40 ± 3.31 years) with sub-clinical ADHD symptoms (subclinical ADHD group). We performed the following assessments: Korean ADHD rating scale-IV (K-ARS-IV), children depression inventory, state/trait anxiety inventory for children, and MMN (measured at Fz, FCz, Cz, and CPz).ResultsThere were no sex or mean age differences between the groups (c2 = −0.01, p = 0.958; Z = −1.88, p = 0.060, respectively). The ADHD group had a significantly higher mean K-ARS-IV score (26.13 ± 9.56 vs. 17.15 ± 11.73, Z = −2.11, p = 0.035). Significant differences were found according to symptom severity in the MMN amplitude at FCz (Z = −2.11, p = 0.035) and MMN latency at Fz and FCz (Z = −2.48, p = 0.013; Z = −2.57, p = 0.010). The K-ARS-IV, K-ARS inattention subscale, and K-ARS hyperactivity-impulsivity subscale scores in the ADHD group correlated significantly with the MMN amplitude at Cz and CPz.ConclusionThis study found differences in the MMN amplitude and latency according to the severity of ADHD symptoms and identified MMN as a potential adjunct to the diagnosis of ADHD.

Decreased theory of mind skills, increased emotion dysregulation and insight levels in adolescents diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder

Background: An abnormal interaction between cognition and emotion may contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Aims: In this study, we aimed to evaluate theory of mind and emotion regulation skills in adolescents diagnosed with OCD. In addition, the results were evaluated in accordance with patients’ insight levels.Methods: This study was conducted with 50 patients, who were aged between 11 and 16 and who were newly diagnosed with OCD and 50 healthy individuals. The Turkish version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children – Present and Lifetime was used to diagnose OCD and other comorbidities. The Children’s Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, the Children’s Depression Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children were used for clinical evaluation. The intelligence levels were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised Short Form. Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test was used in patients. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale was also used to evaluate the skills of regulating emotions.Results: Patients with OCD had lower ability with regard to reading minds in the eyes and emotion regulation than the healthy individuals. Patients with OCD, who had a poor insight, had more difficulty in reading minds in the eyes and emotion regulation than those with good insight.Conclusions: This study supports the idea that OCD is related to deficits in theory of mind and emotion regulation skills. Thus, further studies are required to confirm the findings of this study.

Factor Structure of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children in an Irish Adolescent Population

Abstract. The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C) is a 26-item, empirically derived, self-report measure, which assesses symptoms of social phobia based on DSM-IV criteria. Previous studies have examined the factor structure of the SPAI-C and suggested three-, four-, and five-factor models. However, differences in the underlying factor structures reported may be due to misuse of analytic methods or use of mixed samples, rather than meaningful differences in the underlying presentation of social anxiety. We tested all previously published factor structures in an Irish community-based adolescent sample. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and DSM-5 criteria supported the five-factor structure proposed by Aune, Stiles, and Svarva (2008) including Assertiveness, Physical/Cognitive Symptoms, Public Performance, Social Encounters, and Avoidance factors. Findings suggest that the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C) is relevant to DSM-5 criteria for social anxiety disorder (SAD) and is appropriate for use with older adolescents outside of the USA.

The Influence of Interactions with Dogs on Affect, Anxiety, and Arousal in Children

Interactions with animals represent a promising way to reduce the burden of childhood mental illness on a large scale. However, the specific effects of child–animal interactions are not yet well-established. This study provides a carefully controlled demonstration that unstructured interactions with dogs can improve clinically relevant symptoms in children. Seventy-eight children (55.1% female, 44.9% male) ages 10 to 13 (M = 12.01, SD = 1.13) completed the Trier Social Stress Test for Children, followed by (a) interaction with a dog, (b) a tactile-stimulation control condition, or (c) a waiting control condition. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children, Short Form and the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children were completed at baseline and posttest, and salivary cortisol was assessed at 5 time points. Adjusting for baseline scores, participants in the experimental condition showed higher scores on the Positive Affect scale than participants in both control conditions and lower scores on the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children than participants in the waiting control condition at posttest. Negative affect was not assessed reliably, and we detected no effect of the interactions on salivary cortisol, as measured by area under the curve with respect to ground. Brief, unstructured interactions with dogs boosted children’s positive emotions and reduced anxiety. Additional research is needed to further clarify which features of the interactions produce these benefits and the extent to which interactions with animals offer benefits that exceed the effects of other common coping strategies, activities, and interventions.

Comparative Study of Effect of Two Methods of Family-Centered and Child-Centered Education on Preoperative Anxiety in 6-12-Year- Old Children in Bushehr City

Introduction: Surgery is a common medical practice carried out in many hospitals and one of the most stressful events that may occur during each person's life. Anxiety is commonly seen in children undergoing surgery. Considering the importance of the subject matter, the aim of present research was to compare the effect of two methods of family-centered and child-centered education on preoperative anxiety in children aged 6-12 years. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study conducted on 70 school-age children undergoing surgery (6-12 years) in Bushehr hospitals. The subjects were selected using quota and simple random sampling methods. The pre and postintervention data were collected using 20- item Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, the validity and reliability of which were previously confirmed. The familycentered and child-centered education methods were implemented in the first and second groups, respectively. Data analysis was later carried out using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency) and inferential statistics tests (chi square test, paired t-test and independent t-test) in SPSS vs. 22. Findings: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic variables. There was not statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of pre-intervention mean anxiety scores (P=0.758); however, the post-intervention anxiety score in the childcentered intervention group was significantly lower than that of the family-centered group (P=0.033).The findings also showed both the above groups reduced the anxiety score in the postintervention phase (P<0.001, P<0.001). Conclusion: The results showed that family-centered and child-centered education methods reduced preoperative anxiety. The child-centered group led to higher reduction in the preoperative anxiety rate than the family-centered group and these interventions should be performed to prepare patients and reduce preoperative anxiety in the treatment centers.

The Psychometric Properties of the French Version of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Child Short Form

The psychometric properties of the French version of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Child Short Form (TEIQue-CSF) were investigated in a sample of 556 children 9 to 13 years of age. The internal consistency and temporal stability were satisfactory. A significant difference for gender, but not for age, was observed. With regard to the factor structure, the best fit was found for a two-factor solution, emotion control and socioemotionality. Regarding convergent validity, positive correlations were found with the total and all except one-factor scores of the Emotion Awareness Questionnaire score (EAQ30). Evidences of concurrent validity were demonstrated, with negative correlations with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and childhood anxiety sensitivity index (CASI). Results also showed a positive correlation with Children’s Social Desirability Scale (CSD). In conclusion, these findings provide additional support for the use of the TEIQue-CSF for researchers and practitioners who want to assess emotion-related constructs in children.

日本の児童生徒における社会不安の特徴 : Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C)を用いた検討

日本の児童生徒における社会不安の特徴 : Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C)を用いた検討

Spiritual Education Program for Reducing Social Anxieties and Improving Social Interaction Skills Among Introverted Children: A Cross-Country Longitudinal Experimental Study

This article reports on a longitudinal experimental study with 3,227 introverted children aged 6–8 years from 15 countries on the effects of a spiritual education program (SEP) in reducing social interaction phobia and anxieties and improving social interaction skills. The pre- and post-test scores of the treatment group children were examined and compared with the scores of the control group on the following measures: the play interaction dimension of the Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale (PIPPS-PI), the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C), and the Children’s Self-Efficacy in Peer Interaction Scale (CSPI). Results showed that the scores of the control group and pre-test scores of the treatment group were lower on the PIPPS-PI and CSPI and higher on the SPAI-C. Post-test or post-SEP scores of the treatment group children were higher on the PIPPS-PI and CSPI and lower on the SPAI-C. Boys, upper-middle-class children, Christians, children who lived with both their parents, children who did three or four rounds of the SEP, and children who regularly self-practiced scored higher on the PIPPS-PI post-test. Post-treatment CSPI scores were higher for children from affluent countries. The most effective predictors of higher post-test CSPI scores were the number of rounds of SEP and self-practice. Results suggest the importance of SEP for introverted children who experience social interaction anxieties.

Early evidence of the Italian validation of the Trait Anxiety Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children

Anxiety is one of the most widespread disorders in childhood. Researchers claim the need for a tool useful to assess the core constructs common to multiple anxiety disorders, to catch the generalized propensity to be anxious and to assess anxiety stability across the lifespan. The Trait Anxiety Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC-T) seems to fill these gaps. The present study examined STAIC-T validity in a sample of 1324 Italian children aged 8–13 years old. Scalar invariance across gender was established. Internal consistency was good. Results reported higher levels of anxiety in girls, whereas no gender differences were found. The measure demonstrated good convergent validity with the Spence Children Anxiety Scale. Findings support the validity of the STAIC-T as a brief and concise diagnostic tool to assess the anxiety proneness in Italian children.

Psychometric Properties of a Social Skills Assessment using a Virtual Environment

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a marked and persistent fear of social and/or performance situations in which embarrassment or scrutiny from others may occur. One form of behavioral assessment is a Role Play Task (RPT). However, RPTs often are not feasible in clinical settings due to the common obstacles in implementation. Thus, the current study examines the feasibility, acceptability and psychometric properties of a virtual environment based social skills assessment compared to the traditional RPT. Forty-six children, ages 7 to 14, participated in two assessment conditions: RPT and a virtual environment behavioral assessment (VE BAT). Participants reported self-ratings of anxiety and acceptability, while blinded observers rated social skills and overall social anxiety. An ANCOVA, covarying for age, revealed (a) no significant task difference for voice volume, speech latency, number of words spoken, effectiveness, and SAM ratings; (b) that the VE BAT was more feasible to implement in terms of personnel time and costs and; (c) more overall anxiety during the RPT task than during the VE BAT task. In addition, the VE BAT demonstrated moderate concurrent validity when correlating the self-report ratings of anxiety with the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C). The current study addresses many of the impediments to conducting RPTs in a clinical setting and, overall, supports the utilization of VE BATS as a viable alternative for the behavioral assessment of social skills in children. Further implications address the potential for the armamentarium for social skills training with children with SAD.