Relief Of Anxiety Research Articles

Weighted Vest Combined With Vibrotactile Stimulations Decrease the Sympathetic Activity: A Repeated Measures Study.

Mental and neurological disorders are a growing global concern, further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress management techniques, such as deep pressure therapy, have gained attention, with weighted vests commonly used for anxiety relief. However, there is limited scientific evidence supporting their efficacy. This study aimed to rigorously assess the effectiveness of a weighted vest incorporating vibrotactile stimulation in reducing anxiety by measuring physiological indicators-pulse rate and skin conductance (SC)-as well as subjective comfort ratings. A total of 30 final-semester college students participated in the study. Participants wore a vibrotactile-weighted vest, and both pulse rate and skin conductance (SC) were measured to gauge anxiety levels. Additionally, participants rated their comfort using a Comfort Rating Scale (CRS). Changes in pulse rate and SC were statistically analyzed, and effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated to assess the magnitude of the intervention's impact. The weighted vest with vibrotactile stimulation resulted in a significant reduction in both pulse rate (dpulse = 0.23-0.62) and SC (dsc = 0.32-0.66), indicating a small to medium effect size in anxiety reduction. Subjective evaluations of the vest using the CRS revealed low scores on discomfort-related items, with participants rating unfavorable statements between 1.5/10 and 4.6/10, suggesting overall comfort during use. This study provides compelling evidence that vibrotactile-weighted vests effectively reduce anxiety, as indicated by both physiological measures and subjective comfort ratings. The findings support the potential of this intervention as a formal therapeutic tool for stress and anxiety reduction. Further research may explore long-term effects and broader applications in clinical settings.

Effects of two non-drug interventions on pain and anxiety in the nursing process of burn patients: a literature review with meta-analysis.

Burns are a global health issue causing significant mortality and high medical costs. Non-pharmacological interventions such as music therapy and virtual reality (VR) therapy have shown potential in alleviating pain and anxiety in burn patients. This study systematically evaluates the impact of these interventions using a network meta-analysis. A systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024566536). Searches in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase up to November 22, 2023, identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving music therapy or VR therapy in burn patients. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (2.0) assessed study quality. Data were analyzed using StataMP-64 software. Seventeen RCTs with 1,119 burn patients were included. Both music therapy and VR therapy significantly reduced pain and anxiety compared to control groups. Music therapy was more effective for pain reduction (SUCRA: 85.4%), while VR therapy was superior for anxiety relief (SUCRA: 79.5%). Music therapy and VR therapy effectively reduce pain and anxiety in burn patients. Integrating these interventions into burn care can enhance patient outcomes. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and optimize individualized treatment plans. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, PROSPERO (CRD42024566536).

Parent-child communication and educational anxiety: a longitudinal analysis based on the common fate model

BackgroundIn the face of family stress and emerging family problems, the transactional model of stress and coping provides new perspectives for solving stress problems in the family. This study integrates it with the common fate model to reveal new paths for coping with educational anxiety problems from the level of parent-child dichotomous interaction in the family environment, aiming to provide some theoretical and practical support for alleviating parents’ education anxiety.MethodsThis study used a combination of interviews and questionnaires to stratify students and their parents from a public junior high school in Jinan City to participate in the study. Data were collected in two time periods (T1, T2; one year apart), and the demographic characteristics of parents and children, parent-child communication quality, education anxiety, and parent-child trust relationship of 495 families were finally analysed by SPSS 27.0.ResultsThe results found that (1) based on the Common Fate Model, quality of parent-child communication negatively predicted parents’ education anxiety; (2) quality of parent-child communication positively predicted parent-child trust relationship; (3) parent-child trust relationship negatively predicted parents’education anxiety; (4) parent-child trust relationship mediated quality of parent-child communication and education anxiety.ConclusionsThis study sheds light on research related to stress coping and anxiety relief in the family environment, and provides theoretical and practical support for understanding the interaction between parents and children at the family level, and coping with stressful events together. It implies that future researchers should not only focus on one aspect when coping with and dealing with family problems, but should analyse the family as a whole, including the communication status and parent-child relationship between parents and children.

The Interplay of Exogenous Cannabinoid Use on Anandamide and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol in Anxiety: Results from a Quasi-Experimental Ad Libitum Study

The public is increasingly reporting using cannabis for anxiety relief. Both cannabis use and the endocannabinoid system have been connected with anxiety relief/anxiolytic properties, but these relationships are complex, and the underlying mechanisms for them are unclear. Background/Objectives: Work is needed to understand how the endocannabinoid system, including the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), may be impacted by the main constituents of cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabidiol (CBD). Methods: The current study examined how the ab libitum use of products differing in THC and CBD affected AEA and 2-AG among 292 individuals randomly assigned to THC-dominant use (N = 92), CBD-dominant use (N = 97), THC + CBD use (N = 74), or non-use (N = 29). Results: The findings suggest that AEA levels do not change differently based on 4 weeks of cannabis use or by cannabinoid content, as AEA similarly increased across all conditions from study weeks 2 to 4. In contrast, AEA decreased at an acute administration session with product conditions containing any THC having greater AEA levels on average than the non-use condition. With regard to 2-AG, its levels appeared to primarily be affected by THC-dominant use, both acutely and over 4 weeks, when controlling for baseline cannabis use and examining study product use frequency among use conditions. Conclusions: Overall, the results continue to shed light on the complicated relationship between cannabinoid content and endocannabinoid production, and highlight the need for continued research on their interplay in human subjects.

Effect of acupressure on anxiety in hemodialysis patients: A systematic review

This systematic review was conducted to investigate the impact of acupressure on anxiety levels among patients undergoing hemodialysis. International electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, were meticulously searched from the inception of the databases to January 8, 2024, employing keywords derived from Medical Subject Headings such as "Acupressure", "Anxiety", and "Hemodialysis". Additionally, Iranian databases such as Iranmedex were scrutinized. The quality of randomized controlled trials was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) critical assessment checklist. A total of four studies, encompassing 496 participants, were included in the analysis. Among the participants, 51.00% were female, with 67.34% allocated to the intervention group. The mean age of the participants was 40.48 (SD=8.75) years. The average study duration and follow-up period were approximately 28 and 4 weeks, respectively. The average intervention duration was 8.33 minutes. The findings underscored the efficacy of acupressure administered by healthcare professionals, such as nurses, in mitigating anxiety levels. This underscores the recommendation for healthcare managers and policymakers to create an environment conducive to the utilization of acupressure by healthcare professionals within hospital settings. Such measures can contribute to the alleviation of anxiety among patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Effect of psychological nursing intervention on anxiety level and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer.

Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disease, and psychological intervention has an important influence on its occurrence and development. To investigate the effect of psychological nursing intervention on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcers. Two groups of patients with peptic ulcer were selected from January to December 2012, with 60 cases in each group, and psychological nursing intervention and routine treatment were respectively performed. Psychological nursing interventions include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychological support and relaxation training. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and quality of life questionnaire were used to evaluate the anxiety level and quality of life of patients before, during and after treatment. The SAS scores of the experimental group significantly decreased over the course of treatment, from 52.3 before treatment to 30.5 after treatment, while SAS scores of the control group did not change significantly. Meanwhile, the experimental group's quality of life score (SF-36) significantly improved over the course of treatment, from 65.2 to 85.2, while the control group remained stable. Further analysis showed that sex and age had no significant influence on the effect of psychotherapy. Both men and women, young and old, showed similar trends in anxiety relief and improved quality of life after treatment. Psychological nursing-based intervention program has a positive effect on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer.

Breaking barriers: uniting Turkish and Greek students through eTwinning collaboration for empathy, understanding, and language anxiety relief

ABSTRACT This study explores the results of an eTwinning project involving four countries, with a focus on collaboration between students from historically distant backgrounds: Turkey and Greece. It primarily aims to foster empathy and understanding, alleviate language anxiety, and enhance foreign language competence among the participants. Using a mixed-method case study approach, data were collected primarily from 7th grade Turkish and 9th grade Greek students. The findings demonstrate notable outcomes, such as significant improvements in English language skills, effective use of ICT tools, enhanced intercultural communicative competence, and a discernible reduction in language anxiety.

Psychological Study on the Influence of Physical Exercise on College Students’ Anxiety

This study aims to explore the impact of physical exercise on the anxiety level of college students. We collected physical exercise data and anxiety self-assessment results from college students of different grades, genders, and ages from multiple universities in Guangdong Province through a questionnaire survey. The study used standardized scales to evaluate participants’ physical exercise types, frequencies, intensities, and anxiety levels. The data analysis results showed that there is a significant negative correlation between college students’ physical exercise and anxiety level, that is, the more frequent and intense the physical exercise, the lower the anxiety level. In addition, there are differences in the effect of different types of physical exercises on anxiety relief, with aerobic exercises such as running and swimming showing more significant anxiety-relieving effects. The research results provide valuable references for psychological health education and anxiety intervention strategies in universities and suggest promoting physical exercise to effectively alleviate college students’ anxiety.

Evaluation of Cannabis-Related Product Use Among Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Narrative Review.

The use of cannabis and cannabis-related products among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is increasing globally. Given the potential anti-inflammatory, therapeutic, and pain management benefits of cannabis-related products, we reviewed primary literature to evaluate the prevalence and possible purpose for cannabis use among patients with HS and to provide recommendations to patients and physicians. A narrative review of original studies was conducted using Embase and Ovid Medline databases. The search strategy was confirmed by a librarian and conducted on September 1, 2023, using a detailed list of subject headings and keywords tailored to cannabis, cannabis-related products, HS, and both adult and pediatric populations. Among 43 identified studies, 6 met the eligibility criteria and encompassed 34,435 patients. Patients were mostly female, and studies were conducted across the United States, Canada, and France. Findings show higher cannabis use among HS patients, demonstrating efficacy in pain management, sleep, anxiety relief, itch relief, and improved quality of life. Cannabis may play a role in analgesia, improved quality of life, pain, itch, and overall mental health in patients with HS and healthcare providers including dermatologists should increase their familiarity in appropriate use of cannabis-related products.

The Anxiety Consumers Feel About Using Robotaxis: HMI Design for Anxiety Factor Analysis and Anxiety Relief Based on Field Tests

The Anxiety Consumers Feel About Using Robotaxis: HMI Design for Anxiety Factor Analysis and Anxiety Relief Based on Field Tests

Investigating the therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin in advanced cancer patients: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis.

Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, is known for its effects on anxiety and depression. It has recently gained increasing interest for its potential therapeutic effects, particularly in patients with advanced cancer. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the effects of psilocybin on adult patients with advanced cancer. To investigate the therapeutic effect of psilocybin in patients with advanced cancer. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar for articles published up to February 2023. The reference lists of the included studies were also searched to retrieve possible additional studies. A total of 7 studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review, comprising 132 participants. The results revealed significant improvements in quality of life, pain control, and anxiety relief following psilocybin-assisted therapy, specifically results on anxiety relief. Pooled effect sizes indicated statistically significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety at both 4 to 4.5 months [35.15 (95%CI: 32.28-38.01)] and 6 to 6.5 months [33.06 (95%CI: 28.73-37.40)]. Post-administration compared to baseline assessments (P < 0.05). Additionally, patients reported sustained improvements in psychological well-being and existential distress following psilocybin therapy. The findings provided compelling evidence for the potential benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy in improving quality of life, pain control, and anxiety relief in patients with advanced cancer.

Fluid therapy is associated with lower care quality and higher symptom burden during last days of life of patients with cancer – a population-based register study

BackgroundParenteral fluid (PF) therapy of patients in end-of-life (EOL) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess associations between PF, quality of the EOL care process and symptom burden in dying cancer patients, using a population-based approach.MethodsThis was a nationwide retrospective register study of all adult cancer deaths with documented information on PF in the last 24 h of life as reported to the Swedish Register of Palliative Care during a three-year period (n = 41,709). Prevalence and relief of symptoms during the last week of life as well as EOL care process quality indicators were assessed in relation to PF in those patients who had a documented decision to focus on EOL care (immediately dying, n = 23,112). Odds ratios were calculated, adjusting for place of death (hospital vs. non-hospital).ResultsPF was administered to 30.9% of immediately dying patients in hospitals compared to 6.5% outside of hospitals. PF was associated with a higher likelihood for breathlessness and nausea. In patients screened for EOL symptoms with a validated instrument, PF was inversely associated with the likelihood of complete relief of breathlessness, respiratory secretions, anxiety, nausea and pain. Several palliative care quality indicators were inversely associated with PF, including EOL conversations and prescriptions of injectable drugs as needed. These associations were more pronounced in hospitals.ConclusionsParenteral fluid therapy in the last 24 h of life was associated with inferior quality of the EOL care process and with increased symptom burden in imminently dying cancer patients.

The Therapeutic Potential of Dalbergia pinnata (Lour.) Prain Essential Oil in Alzheimer's Disease: EEG Signal Analysis In Vivo, SH-SY5Y Cell Model In Vitro, and Network Pharmacology.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is projected by the WHO to affect over 100 million people by 2050. Clinically, AD patients undergoing long-term antipsychotic treatment often experience severe anxiety or depression in later stages. Furthermore, early-stage AD manifests with weakened α waves in the brain, progressing to diminished α and β waves in late-stage disease, reflecting changes in emotional states and disease progression. In this study, EEG signal analysis revealed that inhalation of Dalbergia pinnata (Lour.) Prain essential oil (DPEO) enhanced δ, θ, α and β wave powers in the frontal and parietal lobes, with a rising trend in the β/α ratio in the temporal lobe. These findings suggest an alleviation of anxiety and an enhancement of cognitive functions. Treatment of the AD SH-SY5Y (human neuroblastoma cells) cell model with DPEO resulted in decreased intracellular levels of Aβ, GSK-3β, P-Tau, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, OFR, and HFR, alongside reduced AchE and BchE activities and increased SOD activity. Network pharmacology analysis indicated a potential pharmacological mechanism involving the JAK-STAT pathway. Our study provides evidence supporting DPEO's role in modulating anxiety and slowing AD pathological progression.

Central nervous system active medication use in Medicare enrollees receiving home health care: association with chronic pain and anxiety level.

No comparative effectiveness data exist on nonopioid analgesics and nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytics to treat pain with anxiety. We examined the relationship between drug class and central nervous system (CNS) active drug polypharmacy on pain and anxiety levels in Medicare enrollees receiving home health (HH) care. This retrospective cohort study included enrollees with diagnoses and 2+ assessments of pain and anxiety between HH admission and discharge. Three sets of linear regression difference-in-reduction analyses assessed the association of pain or anxiety reduction with number of drugs; drug type; and drug combinations in those with daily pain and daily anxiety. Logistic regression analysis assessed the effect of medication number and class on less-than-daily pain or anxiety at HH discharge. A sensitivity analysis using multinomial regression was conducted with a three-level improvement to further determine clinical significance. Of 85,403 HH patients, 43% received opioids, 27% benzodiazepines, 26% gabapentinoids, 32% selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and 8% serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). Furthermore, 75% had depression, 40% had substance use disorder diagnoses, and 6.9% had PTSD diagnoses. At HH admission, 83%, 35%, and 30% of patients reported daily pain, daily anxiety, and both, respectively. Central nervous system polypharmacy was associated with worse pain control and had no significant effect on anxiety. For patients with daily pain plus anxiety, pain was best reduced with one medication or any drug combination without opioid/benzodiazepine; anxiety was best reduced with combinations other than opiate/benzodiazepine. Gabapentinoids or SNRI achieved clinically meaningful pain control. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors provided clinically meaningful anxiety relief.

The effectiveness of multimedia use in relieving separation anxiety among first level kindergarten children from mothers viewpoint

The aim of this study was to determine the level of separation anxiety among children in the first level of kindergarten from the perspective of mothers , as well as the effect of multimedia use on relieving this anxiety and the effect of variable (gender) on the level of separation anxiety among children in the first level of kindergarten. The researcher used an experimental approach , the research community was the (Kazewa) kindergarten in the western education directorate in the center of Sulaimaniyah.The sample of study were purposely selected (30) children in the first level of kindergarten. The tool used was a survey form answered by the mothers of children. The results of study showed that the level of separation anxiety among children in the first level of kindergarten was high. there was a statistically significant difference between the pretest and the posttest ,and the difference was in favor of the posttest. This showed the effect of multimedia use on the relief of separation anxiety among the children in the study sample , as it was found that the variable (gender) has no role on the level of separation anxiety among the children in the sample.

Hearing laughter: a prescription for anxiety relief

ABSTRACT Anxiety can have adverse effects on cognition such as impairing test performance or restricting working memory. One way of reducing anxiety is through humor, and the present research investigated if the perception of laughter, which is often seen as a reaction to humor, could impact self-reported anxiety. Participants completed the STAI battery containing subscales for both state and trait anxiety before and after one of three manipulations: a laughter sounds rating task, a neutral sounds rating task, or a working memory span task. Results showed that perceiving laughter decreased both state and trait anxiety, taking a working memory test increased state anxiety, and perceiving neutral sounds had no effect on either type of anxiety. These findings are interpreted as evidence that the positive emotions induced by hearing laughter help to regulate anxiety by undoing arousal, even when negative emotions are not present.

DTx-based cardio-oncology rehabilitation for lung cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.

12024 Background: Cardio-oncology rehabilitation holds significant importance for lung cancer survivors, particularly those diagnosed at an early stage requiring lobectomy, where the maximal oxygen uptake peak (VO2PEAK) stands out as a robust prognositic predictor. Home-based cardiac telerehabilitation serves as a substitute for traditional center-based rehabilitation, demonstrating higher participation and completion rates. Despite the potential benefits, wearable devices and mobile apps, which offer tailored video guides, real-time monitoring, individualized safety alerts, and exercise-specific feedback, have not gained widespread adoption in clinical practice. Here, we present findings on the efficacy, safety, and compliance of a 3-month cardio-oncology rehabilitation program based on digital therapeutics (DTx) for lung cancer survivors. Methods: Early-stage lung cancer survivors post-lobectomy, not requiring radiotherapy or chemotherapy, were randomly assigned to receive cardiac telerehabilitation or usual care for 5 months. For pts in the telerehabilitation group, exercise prescriptions with video guides and real-time HR monitoring were implemented using the R Plus Health APP, a software as medical device approved by CFDA for remote cardiac rehab. The AI-driven prescriptions were generated based on CPET, modified by physiologists, and dynamically optimized according to feedback. Pts in the usual care group received routine instructions. Outcome measurements included VO2PEAK (primary outcome), FEV1, DLCO, cardiac function, safety, compliance, and scales assessing symptoms (MDASI), psychology (HADS), sleep (PSQI), fatigue (MSFI-SF), and quality of life (QLQ-C30). Results: 40 of 47 (85%) pts completed the trial (22 in the telerehabilitation group and 18 in the usual care group). Pts in the telerehabilitation group engaged in exercise an average of 3.3 times per week. The average exercise duration was 151.4 min per week, with an average effective exercise duration (when the required heart rate was reached) of 92.3 min per week. The average prescription compliance rate (effective exercise duration/lower limit of prescription duration) was 101.2%. Cardiac telerehabilitation was associated with a higher average VO2PEAK improvement (3.660±3.232 vs 1.088±3.230 mL/Kg/min, p=0.023), better alleviation of affective interference (-0.883±1.500 vs 0.208±1.222, p=0.048), higher quality of life improvement (16.250±23.017 vs 1.042±13.903, p=0.027), fatigue (-0.889±15.960 vs 1.389±12.087, p=0.024), daytime dysfunction (-0.550±0.686 vs 0.000±0.516, p=0.015), and more anxiety relief (-0.314±0.444 vs -0.054±0.295, p=0.048) compared with usual care. Other efficacy outcomes did not show significant differences between the two groups. No exercise-related adverse events occurred during the intervention. Conclusions: DTx-based cardio-oncology rehabilitation demonstrated improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and reductions in affective interference and anxiety among lung cancer survivors, indicating high compliance and safety. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR2200064000.

Milk-derived extracellular vesicles functionalized with anti-tumour necrosis factor-α nanobody and anti-microbial peptide alleviate ulcerative colitis in mice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) manifests clinically with chronic intestinal inflammation and microflora dysbiosis. Although biologics can effectively control inflammation, efficient delivery to the colon and colon epithelial cells remains challenging. Milk-derived extracellular vesicles (EV) show promise as an oral delivery tool, however, the ability to load biologics into EV presents challenges to therapeutic applications. Here, we demonstrate that fusing cell-penetrating peptide (TAT) to green fluorescent protein (GFP) enabled biologics loading into EV and protected against degradation in the gastrointestinal environment in vitro and in vivo after oral delivery. Oral administration of EV loaded with anti-tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) nanobody (VHHm3F) (EVVHH) via TAT significantly reduced tissue TNF-α levels and alleviated pathologies in mice with acute UC, compared to VHH alone. In mice with chronic UC, simultaneously introducing VHH and an antimicrobial peptide LL37 into EV (EVLV), then administering orally improved intestinal barrier, inflammation and microbiota balance, resulted in relief of UC-induced depression and anxiety. Collectively, we demonstrated that oral delivery of EVLV effectively alleviated UC in mice and TAT efficiently loaded biologics into EV to confer protection from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. This therapeutic strategy is promising for UC and is a simple and generalizable approach towards drug-loaded orally-administrable EV treatment for other diseases.

Using a Biofeedback-Based Mindfulness Practice System to Enhance Mindfulness and Alleviate Anxiety in College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: College students experience intense anxiety, for which biofeedback mindfulness techniques show effectiveness in relief. However, typical biofeedback products often lead to user fatigue and boredom because of a single or fixed feedback and lack of focus on mindfulness enhancement. Materials and Methods: In this research, we developed Mindjourney, a VR-based respiratory feedback mindfulness system, designed to enhance mindfulness and alleviate anxiety through continuous/noncontinuous feedback and nonjudgmental reward/punishment for self-perception and attention management. A randomized controlled trial involved 72 college students, split equally into short-term (n = 34, age: 23.11 ± 1.729) and 4-week long-term (n = 38, age: 24.12 ± 1.408) groups, with equal randomization for intervention and control groups. Pre/postintervention tests were measured by using Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) for long-term groups and Galvanic Skin Response and State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) for short-term groups. Results: Results showed that the long-term intervention group showed a significant increase in mindfulness (P = 0.001 for FFMQ total score). Furthermore, observe and act with awareness subscales showed significant increase after intervention (P = 0.034 for observe, P < 0.001 for act with awareness) compared with the control group. Both intervention groups demonstrated a significant decrease in anxiety levels compared with the control groups (P = 0.049 for SAI, P = 0.01 for TAI). Moreover, participants expressed high interest in this biofeedback mindfulness system and willingness for long-term usage. Conclusion: The proposed biofeedback mindfulness practice system could potentially facilitate mindfulness practice and serve as a convenient tool for anxiety relief in campus college students.

A family perspective for the mechanism of parent-child conflict on maternal anxiety in Chinese children with autism

BackgroundMothers of children with autism reported higher levels of anxiety than mothers of typical children. This study revealed the relationship between parent-child conflict, children’s problem behavior, parenting stress, and maternal anxiety from the perspective of the relationship within the family.MethodsThe State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (CGSQ) were used to measure maternal anxiety and parenting stress respectively from 102 mothers of children with autism. We also collected information on parent-child relationships and children’s problem behaviors by using the Child-Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS) and Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ).ResultsParent-child conflict positively predicted state and trait anxiety in mothers of children with autism. The severity of children’s psychosomatic disorders fully mediated the positive association between parent-child conflict and state-trait anxiety in mothers of children with autism. Parenting stress significantly moderated the impact of parent-child conflict on maternal state anxiety and trait anxiety.ConclusionIn the case of children with autism spectrum disorders, parent-child conflict can directly affect maternal anxiety levels, especially when mothers have low levels of parenting stress. Parent-child conflict can also affect children’s problem behaviors and thus indirectly affect maternal anxiety. Therefore, this study is of great significance for the alleviation of anxiety of mothers of autistic children and the family intervention for the early rehabilitation of autistic children.