Physical Anxiety Symptoms Research Articles

Anxiety disorder symptoms at age 10 predict eating disorder symptoms and diagnoses in adolescence.

Cross-sectional associations between anxiety disorders and eating disorders (EDs) have been well documented; however, limited research has examined whether symptoms of anxiety disorders are prospectively associated with EDs. Identifying these longitudinal associations can aid in discerning relationships among eating and anxiety disorders and point toward a mechanistic understanding of developmental psychopathology. This study investigated the prospective associations between parent-reported anxiety in mid-childhood (age 10) and child-reported ED behaviors and disorders in adolescence (at ages 14 and 16years) in a population-based sample. Participants were individuals enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a population-based, prospective study of women and their children; 7,767 children whose parents provided data at age 10 were included in current analyses. An exploratory factor analysis identified latent anxiety factors at age 10, followed by a path analysis that evaluated associations between these factors and eating disorder symptoms and cognitions at age 14. Parent-reported anxiety symptoms at age 10 yielded 5 factors: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms related to symmetry and checking (Factor 1); OCD symptoms associated with aversion to dirt and germs (Factor 2); physical anxiety symptoms (Factor 3); worries (Factor 4); and social phobia symptoms (Factor 5). Factors 3 and 4 showed the most consistent, positive associations with a range of ED symptoms at age 14. Factor 3 predicted diagnosis of bulimia nervosa by age 16 (OR=1.11, p=.007), whereas Factor 4 predicted diagnoses of anorexia nervosa (OR=1.10, p=.01) and disordered eating by age 16 (OR=1.08, p=.001). Results indicate that symptoms of generalized anxiety in middle childhood may predict adolescent-onset ED symptoms and ED diagnoses.

Relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and symptoms of depression and anxiety: evidence from a population-based sample of Canadian adolescents

BackgroundPhysical and sedentary activities have been identified as potentially modifiable risk factors for many diseases, including mental illness, and may be effective targets for public health policy and intervention. However,...

Lifetime cigarette smoking and chronic widespread and regional pain in later adulthood: evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort study

ObjectiveTo examine whether different lifetime patterns of cigarette smoking are associated with chronic widespread pain (CWP) and chronic regional pain (CRP) at age 68.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingEngland, Scotland and Wales.ParticipantsUp to...

An Effective Virtual Reality based Remedy for Acrophobia

Virtual reality (VR) Exposure Therapy with sophisticated technology has been used in the Psychological treatment. The goal is to design a virtual environment using HCI (HMD) device with an interactive and immersive realistic 3D graphic scenes for exposure therapy of acrophobia that allows patient to sense height and gets used to the fearful feelings .The degree of fear is then used to evaluate the effectiveness of the system before and after therapy with the help of comparison. One may feel a little uneasy and perhaps accelerated heart rate, excessive sweating and shortness of breath, etc. are some of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety upon exposure to height. This extreme or irrational fear of height is called “Acrophobia”. The HMI based simulation is used which used the body sensation elucidation as physical symptoms of anxiety upon exposure to height to predict the results. The test reveals that anxiety level decreases from 16% at first level exposure and 8% at last level exposure. It is concluded from the results that VR exposure therapy is more effective than real exposure therapy and also the post test for VR exposure therapy were significantly better than post real exposure results. This system provides cost effective solution for rehabilitation environment.

The Perception and Experience of Infertile Women Who Received Acupressure in Relation to Anxiety: A Qualitative Study.

Background:Women, who are in a critical situation like infertility, are more prone to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem than other people. The aim of this study was to explore the deep experience of anxiety in infertile women who received acupressure during in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI).Materials and Methods:This qualitative, conventional content analysis study was performed on 14 infertile female participants in the Milad IVF Center in Mashhad, Iran, from September 2015 to August 2016. The study subjects included Iranian women, aged 20–45 (mean [standard deviation, SD] 29.07 [4.06]) years with primary infertility. Acupressure was performed on the Heart 7 and Pericardium 6 acupoints in 12 sessions. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, and transcribed, coded, and organized in different categories based on three primary phases of preparation, organization, and reporting.Results:The results showed the two major categories of “body perceptions of anxiety diminution” and “mind experiences.” The body perceptions category consisted of three subcategories, namely, reduction of nervous, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. The subcategories of the mind experiences category consisted of emotional and cognitive consequences.Conclusions:The qualitative findings showed a number of positive outcomes in the physical and mental signs and symptoms of anxiety in infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI, so acupressure can be used for reducing the unpleasant feelings and body perceptions of these women.

The Relationship Between Anger and Anxiety Symptoms in Youth With Anxiety Disorders

This study examined the relationship between anger and anxiety in youth in an outpatient anxiety treatment clinic. Participants included 40 primarily female and Caucasian youth, all diagnosed with a primary anxiety disorder. Youth provided ratings of anger, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. We also obtained parent and clinician ratings of anxiety severity. Analyses supported a significant relationship between trait anger and anxiety severity. When rated by youth, trait anger was significantly related to physical symptoms of anxiety and harm avoidance. Youth report of anger symptoms was not related to parent or clinician report of youth anxiety severity. Assessing symptoms of anger in youth with anxiety disorders may be important, as it may be related to higher anxiety symptom severity for some youth. Future research in larger samples is needed to understand the co-occurrence of different components of anger and anxiety disorders and its impact on prognosis and treatment process.

Physical activity and symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with and without visual impairments: The HUNT Study

PurposeTo examine the association of leisure-time physical activity (PA) and symptoms of anxiety and depression among adults with and without self-reported visual impairment. MethodsA population-based cohort study including 34,393 participants 20–67 years of age from the second wave of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT2, 1995–1997) who also participated in the follow-up (HUNT3, 2006–2008). Of the participants, 3719 (10.8%) had self-reported visual impairment (SRVI). Unadjusted and fully adjusted generalized linear models were used to calculate relative risks (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of PA with anxiety and depression symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) separately for visual impairment and gender. ResultsAt follow-up, a two-folded higher prevalence of HADS-defined anxiety and depression (a score ≥ 8) was found among adults with SRVI than among adults with self-reported no visual impairment (SRNI). In adults with SRVI and SRNI, fewer depression symptoms at follow-up were significantly associated with high baseline PA scores compared with low PA scores, after adjusting for possible confounders (p < 0.05). In adults with SRNI, high baseline PA was related to fewer anxiety symptoms at follow-up compared with their less physically active counterparts, but the associations turned non-significant after adjusting for possible confounders (p > 0.05). PA was not significantly related to anxiety symptoms among adults with SRVI (p > 0.05). ConclusionsRegular PA was associated with fewer depression symptoms in adults with SRVI and SRNI, with less clear associations found for anxiety symptoms.

Help-seeking intentions for anxiety among older adults

Mental health practices are not working for older people with anxiety in residential care, as there is a persistent lack of recognition and treatment. This suggests that alternative ways of reaching and meeting the needs of this population need to be explored. One possibility involves enabling older adults themselves to seek help. The current work explored various factors impacting on help-seeking behaviours. In total, 105 participants from independent living units in a residential care setting completed a questionnaire focusing on attitudes and stigma towards anxiety, likelihood to seek help, help-seeking barriers and literacy around the symptoms of anxiety. Participants in the main did not hold negative attitudes towards other people with anxiety, despite concerns that other people could view them negatively if they were experiencing anxiety. Barriers to help-seeking included: difficulties recognising physical anxiety symptoms as being indicative of anxiety; the effectiveness of treatments; costs; misdiagnosis; privacy; medication usage and the associated side-effects; and, uneasiness about the skills and knowledge of health professionals. Although concerns were not held by all participants, the fact remains that anxiety is largely undiagnosed and untreated for this population and these stoppages to appropriate care must be addressed.

Psychiatrists' experiences of suicide assessment.

BackgroundClinical guidelines for suicide prevention often stress the identification of risk and protective factors as well as the evaluation of suicidal intent. However, we know very little about what psychiatrists actually do when they make these assessments. The aim was to investigate psychiatrists’ own accounts of suicide assessment consultations, with a focus on their behaviors, attitudes and emotions.MethodSemi-structured in depth interviews were carried out with a purposive selection of 15 psychiatrists.ResultsThematic analysis revealed three main themes: understanding the patient in a precarious situation, understanding one’s own reactions, and understanding how the doctor-patient relationship impacted on risk assessment and management decisions. Emotional contact and credibility issues were common subthemes that arose when the respondents talked about trying to understand the patient. The psychiatrists stressed the semi-intuitive nature of their assessments. Problems related to the use of risk factor assessments and rating scales were apparent. Assessment consultations could evoke physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety, and concerns about responsibility could lead to repressive management decisions. In situations of mutual trust, however, the assessment consultation could kick-start a therapeutic process.ConclusionThis study highlights psychiatrists’ experiences in clinical suicide assessment situations. Findings have implications for professional development as well as for service delivery.

Dose the Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Anxiety due to Hyperthyroidism Differ from Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder? A Comparative Study

Background: Hyperthyroidism is associated with anxiety symptoms. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with anxiety due to hyperthyroidism with patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in Abolfazl psychiatry clinic affiliated to Bushehr University of Medical Sciences from September 2012 to September 2013. Anxiety severity and characteristics of thirty-two patients with GAD was compared to 34 patients with anxiety due to hyperthyroidism. Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A) was used to evaluate the overall anxiety severity and anxiety symptom profile of the two groups. Results: There was no significant difference regarding overall anxiety severity between the two groups (P = 0.65). Autonomic symptoms were more sever in hyperthyroid patients (P = 0.003) whereas anxious mood and fears were more prominent in patients with GAD (P = 0.001 and P = 0.045, respectively). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that patients with GAD reported more psychology symptoms of anxiety whereas physical symptoms of anxiety were more prominent in hyperthyroid patients. Our findings may help differentiate these two disorders in the clinic, based on the symptom profile. However, it is important to note that this study is preliminary, and larger studies are needed to confirm the results.

The Longitudinal Effect of Emotion Regulation Strategies on Anxiety Levels in Children and Adolescents

There is growing evidence linking emotion dysregulation to anxiety. However, few studies have examined this relationship longitudinally or developmentally. Additionally, no studies have specifically examined the predictive relevance of the emotion regulation skills taught in mindfulness- and acceptance-based therapies. We explore whether specific emotion regulation processes differentially predict specific anxiety symptoms over time among children and adolescents. Methods: Initial emotion non-awareness, nonacceptance, and difficulties with goal-directed behavior were assessed in a community sample (n = 312, age range = 8–16, mean age = 11.68, 59% female, 69% Caucasian). Social anxiety, separation anxiety, and physical anxiety symptoms were assessed every 3 months for 3 years. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the concurrent and longitudinal effects of emotion dysregulation assessed at baseline or 18 months on anxiety. Results: After controlling for depression, age, and gender, all three processes concurrently predicted physical and social anxiety, and all but nonacceptance predicted separation anxiety. Only difficulties with goal-directed behavior, however, predicted longitudinal change in separation anxiety over time with covariates. Additionally, emotion non-awareness and difficulties with goal-directed behavior predicted subsequent changes in social anxiety. Conclusions: Emotion dysregulation may serve as a potential risk factor for the development of anxiety symptoms among youth. It may be beneficial to target reductions in maladaptive strategies in prevention or intervention work.

Relationship Between Stressful Life Events And Anxiety During The Period Of Adolescence

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between stressful life events and anxiety during the period of adolescence. It is known that stressful life events are commonly studied risk and environmental factors in the development of psychopathology in childhood and adolescence. In addition, physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety are often associated with stressful life events. These events are related to the different experiences of conflict and disrupted communication in the family. Subsequently, these events directly or indirectly affect the self-esteem and the self-image of adolescents during the period of adolescence. This research starts with the assumption that stressful life events predicted anxiety during the period of adolescence. Another assumption, in this research, is that females have higher level of anxiety compared with males. This study was conducted on a sample of 160 participants (80 girls and 80 boys) students in the fourth year of secondary school. The instruments used in the research include: scale of stressful life events for children and adolescents – Stress-D, and the Scale for anxiety for children and adolescents – SCAD-62. The results showed that stressful life events were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms (r= .962, p&lt;.01). Also, the symptoms of anxiety are closely associated with medical (F,24,135= .871, p&lt;.05) and family stressful events (F,24,135= 2.017, p&lt;.05). There were significant relationship between medical stressful life events and gender (p= .045), and social stressful life events and gender (p= .001). On the other hand, there was a negative correlation between academic stressful life events and gender (p= .944), and family stressful life events and gender (p= .564). In conclusion, the results of the study show that females have higher level of anxiety compared with males (r= .985, p&lt;.01). The results show that there is a significant relationship between specific types of stressful life events, including those related to physical health and family which discord the anxiety during the period of adolescence.

Examining the bidirectional relationship between physical activity, screen time, and symptoms of anxiety and depression over time during adolescence

More physical activity (PA) and less screen time (ST) are positively associated with mental health in adolescents; however, research is limited by short-term designs and the exclusion of ST when examining PA. We examined: (a) changes in PA, ST, symptoms of depression, and symptoms of anxiety over four assessments spanning 11years, and (b) bidirectional relationships between initial PA, ST, and symptoms of depression and anxiety as predictors of change in each other during adolescence. Between 2006 and 2010, participants from Ottawa Canada (Time1; N=1160, Mean age=13.54years) completed questionnaires at four points covering the ages from 10 to 21years. Latent growth modeling was used. PA decreased over time whereas ST and symptoms of depression and anxiety increased over time. Controlling for sex, ethnicity, school location, zBMI, birth year, and parents' education, initially higher anxiety was associated with initially higher ST (covariance=.88, p<.05) and initially lower PA (covariance=−6.84, p=.07) independent of initial symptoms of depression. Higher initial depression was associated with higher initial ST (covariance=2.55, p<.05). Increases in anxiety were associated with increases in ST (covariance=.07, p=.06) and increases in depression (covariance=.41, p<.05). Examining bidirectional relationships, higher initial symptoms of depression predicted greater decreases in PA (b=−.28, p<.05). No other significant findings between initial PA, ST, anxiety, or depression were found as predictors of change in each other. Interventions targeting depression around age 13 may be useful to prevent further declines in PA. Similarly, interventions to reduce ST may be beneficial for concurrent reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety, irrespective of PA.

The Role of Anxiety on the Experience of Peer Victimization and Eating Disorder Risk

This study examined the mediating effect of anxiety and its subtypes on the relation between peer victimization and eating disorder risk and how this mechanism may be contingent on gender. Data were analyzed from 1391 male and female children between the ages of 10 and 14. Measures used include: the Eating Disorder Inventory-3, the School Climate and Bullying Scale, and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children. It appears that the increase in anxiety associated with being bullied partly explains why peer victimization is related to eating disorder symptoms for the anxiety symptom clusters of physical symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, and separation anxiety symptoms but not for harm avoidance symptoms. This present study further explored the development of eating disorders across genders using moderated mediation analysis, which found gender differences for physical symptoms of anxiety, social anxiety symptoms, and overall anxiety symptoms when such anxiety symptoms were studied as a mediating variable using an exploratory model of moderating mediation (i.e., first- and second-stage moderated mediation). Here, both the effect of peer victimization on these symptoms of anxiety and the effect of these anxiety types on eating disorder symptoms were greater for girls than for boys, while no gender differences were found with harm avoidance and separation anxiety symptoms in this model. This study was the first to identify a significant mediating effect of different types of anxiety symptoms on peer victimization and eating disorder risk as well as ways in which boys and girls appear to be similar with regard to these mechanisms as well as different. Findings highlight the importance of considering interpersonal vulnerabilities of the victim in selecting intervention efforts. In addition to intrapersonal strategies aimed at reducing bystander behavior and increasing assertiveness, school-based interventions for victims of bullying should also assess victims for anxiety and support the development of healthy coping skills.

Youth offspring of mothers with posttraumatic stress disorder have altered stress reactivity in response to a laboratory stressor

Parental Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), particularly maternal PTSD, confers risk for stress-related psychopathology among offspring. Altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning is one mechanism proposed to explain transmission of this intergenerational risk. Investigation of this mechanism has been largely limited to general stress response (e.g., diurnal cortisol), rather than reactivity in response to an acute stressor. We examined cortisol reactivity in response to a laboratory stressor among offspring of mothers with a lifetime diagnosis of PTSD (n=36) and age- and gender- matched control offspring of mothers without PTSD (n=36). Youth (67% girls; mean age=11.4, SD=2.6) participated in a developmentally sensitive laboratory stressor and had salivary cortisol assessed five times (one pre-stress, one immediate post-stress, and three recovery measures, spaced 15min apart). Results were consistent with the hypothesis that offspring of mothers with PTSD would exhibit a dysregulated, blunted cortisol reactivity profile, and control offspring would display the expected adaptive peak in cortisol response to challenge profile. Findings were maintained after controlling for youth traumatic event history, physical anxiety symptoms, and depression, as well as maternal depression. This finding contributes to the existing literature indicating that attenuated HPA axis functioning, inclusive of hyposecretion of cortisol in response to acute stress, is robust among youth of mothers with PTSD. Future research is warranted in elucidating cortisol reactivity as a link between maternal PTSD and stress-related psychopathology vulnerability among offspring.

Sensory Neuropeptides, Serotonin Innervations and Personality in Women with Vulvodynia

Objective: The pathophysiology of vulvadynia is still unclear. We evaluated the general innervations of the nerves, the sensory neuropeptides in the vestibular area in eighteen women with vulvadynia, aged 20-38. The same individual acted as her own control and biopsies were taken from affected and none affected areas of posterior wall of the vulval vestibule. Quantitative immunohistochemistry was performed, using antisera to the general neuronal marker protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 and to the sensory neuropeptides substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Pain and stress assessments were made. Results: The number of PGP 9.5 immunoreactive in the affected areas showed an increase in number (p=0.06) compared to control sites (p=0.40), but the result did not reached to significance. High scores for pain sensation, signs of burnout, emotional and physical symptoms of stress and anxiety were indicated, regardless of time in all women. Conclusions: An increase in PGP 9.5 immunoreactive nerve fibers may be either secondary to nerve sprouting, or may represent neural hyperplasia, which could be applied as an objective diagnostic finding in vulvadynia. Further studies needed for the neuromediator’s roll and inter individual factors for the diagnosis. Vulvodynia seem lead to chronic pain, hence having negative impact on the couple's relationship and the quality of life of women in several ways.

Elit Sporcuların Kaygı Durumlarını Etkileyen Faktörlerin Belirlenmesi

The purpose of this study was to determine the anxiety the triathlon sportsmen of national teams experience before competitions and the factors that affect this kind of anxiety. This descriptive study was carried out with the voluntary participation of 104 sportsmen who participated in the Istanbul European Cup, Elazig Balkan Grand Prix and Alanya World Cup in 2014. The data collection instrument was an interview questionnaire developed by the researchers, and the Cronbach alpha of the questions was 0.77. The data were analyzed with a statistical program, and independent samples t-test and ANOVA were used. According to the data, the following findings were identified: the sportsmen of the Turkish national team felt pre-competition anxiety more than the sportsmen of foreign national teams. The female sportsmen experienced the physical symptoms of anxiety more. The younger sportsmen felt more anxious about the fact that they were not going to perform well in the competition. The anxiety of making mistakes decreased with age. Those whose sporting age was lower felt more anxious for not performing well and for making mistakes.

Self-esteem Mediates Associations of Physical Activity with Anxiety in College Women

Why physically active people report lower anxiety than those who are inactive is not well understood. This study examined whether physical self-concept and self-esteem would mediate associations of self-reported physical activity with anxiety disorder symptoms in young women, a population with elevated risk for developing an anxiety disorder. College women (N = 1036, mean ± SD = 19.7 ± 2.9 yr) completed a physical activity recall, the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire, and the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses. Physical activity had inverse, indirect associations with symptoms of social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder that were expressed through its positive association with specific and global physical self-concept and self-esteem. The results were independent of similar relations with symptoms of major depressive disorder as well as the estimates of body fatness and use of psychotropic medications. These correlational findings provide initial evidence to warrant experimental efficacy trials of whether physical activity will reduce the risk of anxiety disorders in young women by positive influences on physical self-concept and self-esteem.

Clinical effectiveness of interventions for treatment-resistant anxiety in older people: a systematic review

Anxiety and related disorders include generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and phobic disorders (intense fear of an object or situation). These disorders share the psychological and physical symptoms of anxiety, but each disorder has its own set of characteristic symptoms. Anxiety disorders can be difficult to recognise, particularly in older people (those aged over 65 years). Older people tend to be more reluctant to discuss mental health issues and there is the perception that older people are generally more worried than younger adults. It is estimated that between 3 and 14 out of every 100 older people have an anxiety disorder. Despite treatment, some people will continue to have symptoms of anxiety. People are generally considered to be 'resistant' or 'refractory' to treatment if they have an inadequate response or do not respond to their first treatment. Older adults with an anxiety disorder find it difficult to manage their day-to-day lives and are at an increased risk of comorbid depression, falls, physical and functional disability, and loneliness. To evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological, psychological and alternative therapies in older adults with an anxiety disorder who have not responded, or have responded inadequately, to treatment. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed citations, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library databases, PsycINFO and Web of Science) were searched from inception to September 2013. Bibliographies of relevant systematic reviews were hand-searched to identify additional potentially relevant studies. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for ongoing and planned studies. A systematic review of the clinical effectiveness of treatments for treatment-resistant anxiety in older adults was carried out. No randomised controlled trial or prospective comparative observational study was identified meeting the prespecified inclusion criteria. Therefore, it was not possible to draw any conclusions on clinical effectiveness. As no study was identified in older adults, there is uncertainty as to which treatments are clinically effective for older adults with an anxiety disorder who have not responded to prior treatment. The comprehensive methods implemented to carry out this review are a key strength of the research presented. However, this review highlights the extreme lack of research in this area, identifying no comparative studies, which is a marked limitation. Specific studies evaluating interventions in older adults with an anxiety disorder who have not responded to first-line treatment are needed to address the lack of evidence. The lack of evidence in this area means that older adults are perhaps receiving inappropriate treatment or are not receiving a particular treatment because there is limited evidence to support its use. At this time there is scope to develop guidance on service provision and, as a consequence, to advance the standard of care received by older adults with a treatment-resistant anxiety disorder in primary and secondary care. Evaluation of the relative clinical effectiveness and acceptability of pharmacological and psychological treatment in older adults with an anxiety disorder that has not responded to first-line treatment is key future research to inform decision-making of clinicians and patients. An important consideration would be the enrolment of older adults who would be representative of older adults in general, i.e. those with multiple comorbid physical and mental disorders who might require polypharmacy. The protocol for the systematic review is registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42013005612). The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

Gender-specific associations between leisure-time physical activity and symptoms of anxiety: the HUNT study.

The underlying goal of the study was to examine gender-specific effects of leisure-time physical activity on the development of symptoms of anxiety. The second wave of a prospective cohort survey (HUNT 2) was conducted during 1995-1997 in the county of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, with a follow-up in 2006-2008 (HUNT 3). The sample consisted of 12,796 women and 11,195 men with an age range of 19-85years. A binomial model with a log-link function and generalized linear model analysis with gamma distribution was used to assess the association between physical activity and anxiety symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety subscale, HADS-A). A total of 1,211 (9.5%) women and 650 (5.8%) men developed HADS-defined anxiety (≥8 on the HADS-A scale). Men who scored in the middle tertile of the calculated physical activity index developed significantly fewer cases of HADS-defined anxiety compared with men in the lowest tertile (p<0.05). In the gamma regression analysis for women, having higher scores on the moderate-high physical activity was associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety (p<0.01). Women developed almost twice as many cases of HADS-defined anxiety compared to men. Significant associations were found between general leisure-time physical activity and anxiety symptoms among women and men, but the true effect is likely to be different from the observed associations due to several threats to the internal validity in the study.