Higher General Anxiety Research Articles

Формирование эмоционального благополучия младших школьников через сказкотерапию

The psychological and emotional well-being of children is one of the most discussed problems in modern scientific research. In studies of domestic psychologists, it was found that 37% of children have increased and 16% of children have high general school anxiety. Studying at school, worries about grades and performance are the main reason for increased anxiety among schoolchildren. One of the conditions for the development of a child’s personality is emotional well-being, which can be developed through fairy tale therapy. The fairy tale therapy method allows for the development of the emotional well-being of children, since it uses the metaphorical resources of fairy tales and creates conditions for maintaining a stable emotional-positive state and life satisfaction. The paper sets out to experimentally test the effectiveness of using fairy tale therapy in the formation of the emotional well-being of schoolchildren. The diagnostics selected were: 1) test tasks “The Magical Land of Feelings” (authors: T.D. Zinkevich-Evstigneeva, T.M. Grabenko, D.A. Frolov); 2) SAN test questionnaire (V.A. Doskin’s method). A fairytale therapy program “My Emotions” was created to develop the emotional well-being of elementary school students. The study showed a positive growth trend in the number of children in the experimental group demonstrating emotional well-being, a sense of joy, motivation to study and communicate with peers. The developed program for fairy tale therapy “My Emotions” can be used by primary school teachers to develop the emotional well-being of children in extracurricular activities, and for the professional training of teachers and psychologists.

Anxiety predicts math achievement in kindergarten children.

Math anxiety (MA) is an academic anxiety about learning, doing, and evaluating mathematics, usually studied in school populations and adults. However, MA likely has its origins before children go to school. For example, studies have shown that general anxiety (GA) for everyday events is less separable from MA in primary than in early secondary school. This suggests that GA may be a precursor of MA. For this reason, here, we have examined whether GA is already associated with math achievement at the end of kindergarten. We tested 488 Hungarian kindergarten children aged 5.7 to 6.9 years (55% girls) and analyzed the effect of GA, sex, and family SES on math achievement in kindergarten children. Strikingly, confirming results from primary school children, we found that GA negatively correlated with math achievement already in this preschool population. Higher GA levels had a stronger negative effect on girls' than boys' math achievement. However, there were no significant sex differences in math achievement in kindergarten. Additionally, family socioeconomic status was the strongest predictor of math achievement. We speculate that high GA in preschool is a plausible early precursor of later high MA. Early interventions could aim to control GA levels before children start formal schooling.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients in western Pennsylvania: rural–urban disparities

Disparities in cancer care persist between patients living in rural versus urban areas. The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted concerns related to care and personal health differently in rural cancer patients. Using survey data collected from cancer patients in western Pennsylvania, we examined pandemic-related distress, concerns related to cancer care, impact on personal health, and the extent to which these differed by urban-rural residence. Patients filled out an initial survey in August-December 2020; a second survey was completed in March 2021. The following patient concerns related to the pandemic were evaluated: threat of COVID-19 to their health, pandemic-related distress, perceptions of cancer care, and vaccine hesitancy. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine relationships between these outcomes and urban-rural residence as well as patient-related factors, including anxiety symptoms and social support. The study sample included 1,980 patients, 17% resided in rural areas. COVID-19 represented a major or catastrophic threat to personal health for 39.7% of rural and 49.0% of urban patients (p = 0.0017). Patients with high general anxiety were 10-times more likely to experience pandemic-related distress (p < 0.001). In the follow-up survey (n = 983), vaccine hesitancy was twice as prevalent among rural patients compared to urban (p = 0.012). The extent to which perceptions of the threat of COVD-19 to personal health and vaccine hesitancy exacerbates rural-urban disparities in cancer care and prognosis warrants further study. Cancer patients may be vulnerable to heightened anxiety and distress triggered by the pandemic.

Anxiety symptoms during COVID-19 in older adults with psychiatric disorders.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older people and patients with psychiatric disorders had an increased risk of being isolated. The French National Authority for Health has recommended a reinforced follow-up of these patients. Cross-sectional studies reported an increased risk of developing anxiety and depression during pandemic. The aim of our study was to identify factors associated with higher anxiety during the pandemic in older patients with psychiatric disorders. STERACOVID is a multicenter cohort study with 117 patients followed-up by phone in two French geriatric psychiatry units. In this work, we used cross-sectional data from a prospective follow-up conducted between January and May 2021. We found that coping strategies, personality, and living conditions were associated with general anxiety (GA) level during the pandemic period. Higher GA was associated with less positive thinking coping strategy, more avoidance strategies, a lower level of extraversion, a higher level of neuroticism, more time spent watching the news, a higher feeling of loneliness, and a lack of physical contact. Our study identified factors associated with a poorer experience of pandemic crisis. Special attention should be paid to patients with a high level of neuroticism and a high feeling of loneliness. Support could aim to help patients use more functional strategies: reducing avoidance strategies and increasing positive thinking. Finally, reducing time watching news could also be an interesting prevention perspective. clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04760795.

Surgical Performance Anxiety and Wellbeing Among Surgeons in Saudi Arabia

Background: Anxiety, particularly performance anxiety (PA), is prevalent in surgery, affecting both novice and experienced surgeons. This anxiety, rooted in the fear of making errors, can lead to stress and impact performance. Stress, common in surgery, has adverse effects on professional well-being, potentially leading to errors and burnout. While surgical education is evolving to address cognitive and behavioral skills. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia, including surgical specialty doctors (residents, registrars, and consultants) to determine the prevalence, nature, and potential effects of PA on the well-being of surgeons. Data were collected via an online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Ver. 29). Results: Our study included 153 surgeons, primarily aged 24-30, with most being married residents in various surgical subspecialties. The majority (52.3%) experienced moderate surgical performance anxiety (SPA), while around 29% had high anxiety levels. Mental well-being varied, with 48.3% showing low well-being, 32.6% moderate, and 17.1% high. Factors such as age, gender, and region influenced anxiety and perfectionism scores, but mental well-being was mainly influenced by the region. Notably, the linear regression model shows that high general anxiety, multidimensional perfectionism, and surgical perfectionism (SP) were significant predictors of SPA, while better mental well-being was associated with lower anxiety levels. Conclusion: The present study reveals high SPA among Saudi Arabian surgeons, linked to mental well-being. Age and gender have minimal predictive value, but region, professional position, and SP significantly impact anxiety.

Associations between mental health and HIV status among sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents in Nigeria

BackgroundWe aimed to determine associations between the mental health status of adolescents by self-reported sexual identity; and to determine associations between the mental health status of sexual minority adolescents living...

The complexity of dental anxiety and its association with oral health-related quality of life: An exploratory study.

This study aimed to explore the factors associated with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a sample with high dental anxiety. Data were obtained from 107 patients attending a therapeutic treatment program for people who have experienced abuse and for those with dental phobia in Norway. Patients completed questionnaires, including the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear, the Anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance scale, measuring OHRQoL prior to treatment. The various measurement instruments were evaluated psychometrically,and the variables associated withOHRQoL were explored using hierarchical multiple regression.Symptoms of dental anxiety and general anxiety were high, while OHRQoL was poor. Dental anxiety, higher age, higher number of years since the last dental treatment, and higher general anxiety were discernibly associated with lower OHRQoL. The strongest association was found between general anxiety and OHRQoL. In conclusion, several factors were associated with OHRQoL in a sample with high dental anxiety, suggesting a complex picture of dental anxiety. When treating patients with high dental anxiety, dental practitioners should be aware that there may be factors complicating the therapeutic setting, such as general anxiety.

Handwashing adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study based on protection motivation theory

RationaleThe associations between the number of COVID-19 cases/deaths and subsequent uptake of protective behaviors may reflect cognitive and behavioral responses to threat-relevant information. ObjectiveApplying protection motivation theory (PMT), this study explored whether the number of total COVID-19 cases/deaths and general anxiety were associated with cross-situational handwashing adherence and whether these associations were mediated by PMT-specific self-regulatory cognitions (threat appraisal: perceived vulnerability, perceived illness severity; coping appraisal: self-efficacy, response efficacy, response costs). MethodThe study (#NCT04367337) was conducted in March–September 2020 among 1256 adults residing in 14 countries. Self-reports on baseline general anxiety levels, handwashing adherence across 12 situations, and PMT-related constructs were collected using an online survey at two points in time, four weeks apart. Values of COVID-19 cases and deaths were retrieved twice for each country (one week prior to the individual data collection). ResultsAcross countries and time, levels of adherence to handwashing guidelines were high. Path analysis indicated that smaller numbers of COVID-19 cases/deaths (Time 0; T0) were related to stronger self-efficacy (T1), which in turn was associated with higher handwashing adherence (T3). Lower general anxiety (T1) was related to better adherence (T3), with this effect mediated by higher response efficacy (T1, T3) and lower response cost (T3). However, higher general anxiety (T1) was related to better adherence via higher illness severity (T1, T3). General anxiety was unrelated to COVID-19 indicators. ConclusionsWe found a complex pattern of associations between the numbers of COVID-19 cases/deaths, general anxiety, PMT variables, and handwashing adherence at the early stages of the pandemic. Higher general anxiety may enable threat appraisal (perceived illness severity), but it may hinder coping appraisal (response efficacy and response costs). The indicators of the trajectory of the pandemic (i.e., the smaller number of COVID-19 cases) may be indirectly associated with higher handwashing adherence via stronger self-efficacy.

Exploring the burden of xerosis cutis and the impact of dermatological skin care from patient's perspective

Background Xerosis cutis is recognized as a burdensome and stressful condition of the skin, resulting in impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Therefore, it should be treated as a relevant skin disease with detailed care and treatment recommendations. Methods This cross-sectional, exploratory study aimed to examine xerosis cutis-related burden from patient’s perspective and compare it with individuals without xerosis cutis. Within-group comparisons were also performed among patients with xerosis cutis associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) or not. The second aim was to assess the effect of a routinely applied basic skin care therapy in terms of burden release. Results Overall, 127 participants were included in the study. Patients with xerosis cutis reported a lower quality of life (p = .041), more dysmorphic concerns (p < .001), and higher general anxiety (p = .029) than individuals without xerosis cutis. The presence of AD was associated with lower HRQoL (p = .023), more depression (p = .008) and anxiety symptoms (p = .003), and more stigmatization experiences at baseline (p < .001). Conclusion Patients with xerosis cutis showed higher psychosocial burden than participants without xerosis cutis. Additionally, patients with xerosis and AD had more psychosocial impairments than patients with xerosis without AD.

The effects of excessive and compulsive online searching of COVID-19 information (“cyberchondria”) on general and COVID-19-specific anxiety and fear in romantic couples during lockdown

IntroductionCyberchondria involves excessive and uncontrollable online searching of information about a perceived illness. This behavior can cause or maintain distress.ObjectivesLittle is known about cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic or how cyberchondria in one individual may cause distress in their significant other if they are self-isolating together; our study sought to fill these gaps.MethodsWe conducted a Qualtrics Panel survey with 760 cohabitating Canadian couples; in June 2020, participants retrospectively reported on their cyberchondria behavior, general anxiety, and COVID-19 fears during the month of April 2020, while adhering to stay-at-home advisories. Two separate actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) used cyberchondria excessiveness and compulsion to predict generalized anxiety and COVID-19 danger/contamination fears in the actor and partner.ResultsBoth cyberchondria excessiveness and compulsion were associated with higher general anxiety and higher COVID-19 danger/contamination fears in the individual (actor effects). Partner cyberchondria compulsion was associated with higher general anxiety in the individual whereas partner cyberchondria excessiveness was associated with higher COVID-19 danger/contamination fears in the individual (partner effects).ConclusionsFindings suggest that excessive and uncontrollable searching of information about COVID-19 on the internet during lockdown may contribute to distress in both the individual engaging in the cyberchondria behavior, and in their romantic partner. Moreover, different aspects of cyberchondria in the partner (compulsion vs. excessiveness) appears to contribute to general vs. COVID-19-specific anxiety/fears in the partner, respectively. Future research should examine mechanisms underlying the observed partner effects (e.g., co-rumination, social contagion) and reasons for the differential partner effects of cyberchondria components.

Modelling health belief predictors of oral health and dental anxiety among adolescents based on the Health Belief Model: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundA vicious cycle exists between dental anxiety, oral health behaviors and oral health status. Based on previous research, psychological factors of the Health Belief Model (HBM) are associated with oral health behaviors and oral health, and are likely involved in this cycle. However, little is known about the relationship between HBM factors and dental anxiety of adolescents. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between health belief factors, oral health and dental anxiety based on the constructs of the HBM.Methods1207 Grade 2 students from 12 secondary schools in Hong Kong were randomly selected and measured for the decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) index. Data for oral health behaviors, HBM constructs and dental anxiety were collected using questionnaires. The hierarchical entry of explanatory variables into logistic regression models estimating prevalence odds ratios (POR) were analyzed and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for DMFT and dental anxiety were generated. Path analysis was used to evaluate the appropriateness of the HBM as predictors for oral health behaviors, DMFT and dental anxiety.ResultsBased on the full model analysis, individuals with higher perceived susceptibility of oral diseases (POR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.14–1.56) or girls or whose mother received higher education level were likelier to have a DMFT≥1, while those with higher perceived severity (POR: 1.31, 95%CI: 1.09–1.57), flossing weekly, DMFT≥1 or higher general anxiety level statistically increases the possibility of dental anxiety. The results from path analysis indicated that stronger perceived susceptibility, greater severity of oral diseases, less performing of oral health behaviors and a higher score of DMFT were directly related to increased dental anxiety level. Other HBM variables, such as perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy beliefs, cues to action and perceived barriers, might influence dental anxiety through oral health behaviors and caries status.ConclusionsClarifying the propositional structures of the HBM may help the future design of theory-based interventions in reducing dental anxiety and preventing dental caries.

The Role of Emotional Condition in Patients With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Performing Uroflowmetry

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of the general and uroflowmetry (UF)-related anxiety in patients performing UF, and to assess whether anxiety may affect patient's micturition at UF. Materials and MethodsThis prospective study recruited candidates to UF. Recorded data were: demographics, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and anxiety questionnaires (IPSS, ICIQ-FLUTS, GAD-7, APAIS-M), UF parameters, linker-type scale for UF satisfaction/reproducibility and discomfort. ResultsWe enrolled 167 patients (non-naïve 59.3%). One hundred twenty-five were men. General anxiety was found in 55.3% of patients (63.2% naïve), and UF-related anxiety in 41.3% (46.5% non-naïve). No significantly different rate of anxiety was found between naïve and non-naïve patients. A significant difference was found between IPSS total score in patients without anxiety (10.9 ± 6.4) and subjects with anxiety (16.9 ± 7.3; P < 0001). According to the ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaire, only the subscore F was significantly greater in women with a high level of general and UF-related anxiety (7.8 ± 6.1 vs 12 ± 4.9; P < .001). A low UF satisfaction/reproducibility was reported by 27.5% of patients, in 21.7% of subjects with general anxiety, and 36.6% of patients with UF-related anxiety. High discomfort was recorded in 58.1% of patients. Anxiety affected women twice more than men, and patients with high anxiety had worse urinary symptoms. Non-naïve anxious patients had lower reproducibility of micturition and higher discomfort than naïve anxious candidates to UF. ConclusionSeveral patients showed high general and UF-related anxiety at UF, had worse subjective feelings about the reproducibility of their habitual micturition patterns. In anxious patients, knowledge of UF did not avoid a lower reproducibility of micturition, nor a more considerable discomfort.

Changes in Sex Life among People in Taiwan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Risk Perception, General Anxiety, and Demographic Characteristics.

This study used data collected from an online survey study on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan to examine changes in sex life during the pandemic and the factors affecting such changes. In total, 1954 respondents were recruited from a Facebook advertisement. The survey inquired changes in sex life during the pandemic, including satisfaction with the individual’s sex life, frequency of sexual activity, frequency of sex-seeking activity, and frequency of using protection for sex. The associations of change in sex life with risk perception of COVID-19, general anxiety, gender, age, and sexual orientation were also examined. For each aspect of their sex life, 1.4%–13.5% of respondents reported a decrease in frequency or satisfaction, and 1.6%–2.9% reported an increase in frequency or satisfaction. Risk perception of COVID-19 was significantly and negatively associated with frequencies of sexual and sex-seeking activities. Higher general anxiety was significantly and negatively associated with satisfaction of sex life and frequencies of sexual and sex-seeking activities. Sexual minority respondents were more likely to report decreased satisfaction with sex life and frequencies of sexual activity and sex-seeking activities during COVID-19. Health care providers should consider these factors when developing strategies for sexual wellness amid respiratory infection epidemics.

High Parental Anxiety Increases Narcotic Use in Adolescent Patients Following Spinal Fusion.

Parental mental status and behavior may influence postoperative recovery and the use of pain medication. The purpose of this study is to identify if parents with high anxiety are associated with prolonged narcotic use in adolescent patients following posterior spinal fusion surgery. Prolonged narcotic use in this study was defined as opioid use at their first postoperative visit. AIS patients age 11 to 20 years undergoing posterior spinal fusion and a parent were prospectively enrolled. At the preoperative appointment, patients completed the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and parents completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. High parental anxiety was defined as 1 SD above the normative mean. At the first postoperative visit, patients were asked about medication use. A total of 58 patients (49 females and 9 males) were enrolled. Overall, 29% (17/58) of parents had a high general anxiety trait on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and 71% (41/58) had normal general anxiety. Of the patients whose parents had high general anxiety, 47% (8/17) were still taking narcotics at their first postoperative visit compared with 20% (8/41) of patients with normal anxiety parents (P=0.03). Patients with high general anxiety parents were more than twice as likely to still be on narcotics at their first postoperative visit. This information can be used to counsel families on the impact of anxiety on narcotic usage. Level II-prognostic studies-investigating the effect of a patient characteristic on the outcome of the disease.

Convergent Neural Correlates of Empathy and Anxiety During Socioemotional Processing.

Empathy is characterized by the ability to understand and share an emotional experience with another person and is closely tied to compassion and concern for others. Consequently, this increased emotional awareness and sensitivity may also be related to increased anxiety. Taken from another perspective, higher general anxiety may translate into increased concern for others, or concern for how one’s actions might affect others, and therefore may be linked to increased empathy. Furthermore, self-reflection is positively related to perspective-taking and empathic concern, while rumination is closely tied to anxiety, thus providing an additional connecting point between empathy and anxiety through enhanced internally generated thought. While previous literature suggests a relationship between empathy and anxiety, this has yet to be empirically studied using neuroimaging tools aimed at investigating the underlying neural correlates that may support these convergent responses. We therefore conducted an functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study (N = 49) in which participants viewed fearful and neutral human faces and rated how the faces made them feel, to promote introspection. Participants also completed questionnaires assessing empathy Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ), trait anxiety State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), worry Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and rumination Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS). Behaviorally, empathy positively correlated with worry, worry and rumination positively correlated with anxiety, and significant indirect relationships were found between empathy and anxiety through worry and rumination. Using the neuroimaging face processing task as a backdrop on which the neurobiological mechanisms of empathy and anxiety may interact, regressions of questionnaires with brain activations revealed that empathy related to activation in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), anxiety related to bilateral insula activation, and worry related to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activation, while rumination showed increased engagement of all three aforementioned regions. Functional connectivity (FC) analyses showed increased communication between the left amygdala and insula related to higher empathy, worry and rumination. Finally, whole-brain analysis using median split groups from questionnaires revealed that the lower halves of anxiety, worry and rumination exhibited increased activation in top-down attentional networks. In sum, empathy, worry and rumination related to enhanced bottom-up processing, while worry, rumination and anxiety exhibited decreased top-down attentional control, suggesting an indirect relationship between empathy and anxiety through the ruminative tendencies of worry.

Preferences for in-person disclosure: Patients declining telephone disclosure characteristics and outcomes in the multicenter Communication Of GENetic Test Results by Telephone study.

Telephone disclosure of cancer genetic test results is noninferior to in-person disclosure. However, how patients who prefer in-person communication of results differ from those who agree to telephone disclosure is unclear but important when considering delivery models for genetic medicine. Patients undergoing cancer genetic testing were recruited to a multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial (NCT01736345) comparing telephone to in-person disclosure of genetic test results. We evaluated preferences for in-person disclosure, factors associated with this preference and outcomes compared to those who agreed to randomization. Among 1178 enrolled patients, 208 (18%) declined randomization, largely given a preference for in-person disclosure. These patients were more likely to be older (P = 0.007) and to have had multigene panel testing (P < 0.001). General anxiety (P = 0.007), state anxiety (P = 0.008), depression (P = 0.011), cancer-specific distress (P = 0.021) and uncertainty (P = 0.03) were higher after pretest counseling. After disclosure of results, they also had higher general anxiety (P = 0.003), depression (P = 0.002) and cancer-specific distress (P = 0.043). While telephone disclosure is a reasonable alternative to in-person disclosure in most patients, some patients have a strong preference for in-person communication. Patient age, distress and complexity of testing are important factors to consider and requests for in-person disclosure should be honored when possible.

General anxiety, dental anxiety, digit sucking, caries and oral hygiene status of children resident in a semi-urban population in Nigeria

BackgroundDigit sucking can represent untreated anxiety or other emotional problems. The aim of this study was to determine if digit sucking is a predictor of general anxiety and dental anxiety; and if general and dental anxiety are associated with caries and oral hygiene status of children resident in sub-urban Nigeria.MethodsThis was a secondary data analysis of a household survey conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The level of general anxiety and dental anxiety of 450 6 to12 year old children were measured using the Revised Child Manifest Anxiety Scale and Dental Subscale of the Child Fear Survey Schedule respectively. Presence of digit sucking habit, caries and oral hygiene status were determined. General anxiety and dental anxiety scores were dichotomized into low and high levels respectively. Logistic regression was conducted to determine if digit sucking was a predictor of general anxiety and dental anxiety; and if general anxiety and dental anxiety were predictors caries and good oral hygiene status. Adjustments were made for age and sex.ResultsDigit sucking is not a significant predictor of dental anxiety (p = 0.99) and general anxiety (p = 0.79). Children with high general anxiety (AOR: 5.02; 95% CI: 2.9–9.74; p < 0.001) and high dental anxiety (AOR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.15–2.65; p = 0.009) had higher odds of having caries and good oral hygiene respectively.ConclusionDigit sucking was not a significant predictor of general anxiety and dental anxiety. General and dental anxiety however, had effects on the likelihood of having caries and good oral hygiene.

Student anxiety in introductory biology classrooms: Perceptions about active learning and persistence in the major.

Many researchers have called for implementation of active learning practices in undergraduate science classrooms as one method to increase retention and persistence in STEM, yet there has been little research on the potential increases in student anxiety that may accompany these practices. This is of concern because excessive anxiety can decrease student performance. Levels and sources of student anxiety in three introductory biology lecture classes were investigated via an online survey and student interviews. The survey (n = 327) data revealed that 16% of students had moderately high classroom anxiety, which differed among the three classes. All five active learning classroom practices that were investigated caused student anxiety, with students voluntarily answering a question or being called on to answer a question causing higher anxiety than working in groups, completing worksheets, or answering clicker questions. Interviews revealed that student anxiety seemed to align with communication apprehension, social anxiety, and test anxiety. Additionally, students with higher general anxiety were more likely to self-report lower course grade and the intention to leave the major. These data suggest that a subset of students in introductory biology experience anxiety in response to active learning, and its potential impacts should be investigated.

Possible relationship between general and pregnancy-related anxiety during the first half of pregnancy and the birth process: a prospective cohort study

ObjectivesThe rate of interventions during childbirth has increased dramatically during the last decades. Maternal anxiety might play a role in the progress of the labour process and interventions during labour....

The structure and demographic correlates of cancer fear.

BackgroundCancer is often described as the ‘number one’ health fear, but little is known about whether this affects quality of life by translating into high levels of worry or distress in everyday life, or which population groups are most affected. This study examined the prevalence of three components of cancer fear in a large community sample in the UK and explored associations with demographic characteristics.MethodsQuestions on cancer fear were included in a survey mailed to a community sample of adults (n = 13,351; 55–64 years). Three items from a standard measure of cancer fear assessed: i) whether cancer was feared more than other diseases, ii) whether thinking about cancer caused discomfort, and iii) whether cancer worry was experienced frequently. Gender, marital status, education, and ethnicity were assessed with simple questions. Anxiety was assessed with the brief STAI and a standard measure of self-rated health was included.ResultsQuestionnaire return rate was 60% (7,971/13,351). The majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they feared cancer more than other diseases (59%), and felt uncomfortable thinking about it (52%), and a quarter (25%) worried a lot about cancer. All items were significantly inter-correlated (r = .35 to .42, p’s < .001), and correlated with general anxiety (r = .16 to .28, p’s < .001) and self-rated health (r = -.07 to -.16, p’s < .001). In multivariable analyses including anxiety and general health, all cancer fear indicators were significantly higher in women (ORs between 1.15 and 1.48), respondents with lower education (ORs between 1.40 and 1.66), and those with higher general anxiety (ORs between 1.50 and 2.11). Ethnic minority respondents (n = 285; 4.4%) reported more worry (OR: 1.85).ConclusionsMore than half of this older adult sample in the UK had cancer as greatest health fear and this was associated with feeling uncomfortable thinking about it and worrying more about it. Women and respondents with less education or from ethnic minority backgrounds were disproportionately affected by cancer fear. General anxiety and poor health were associated with cancer fear but did not explain the demographic differences.