Spence Children's Anxiety Scale Research Articles

Assessment of anxiety in children with neurodevelopment disorders: Rasch analysis of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale.

Anxiety is common in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The parent version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P) is a widely used measure to assess anxiety across a broad range of childhood populations. However, assessment of the measurement properties of the SCAS-P in NDDs have been limited. The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the SCAS-P in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using Rasch Measurement Theory. Data from the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders Network Registry were used in the analysis. Children (ages 6-13 years old) with a primary diagnosis of ADHD (n=146) or ASD (n=104) were administered the SCAS-P. Rasch Measurement Theory was used to assess measurement properties of the SCAS-P, including unidimensionality and item-level fit, category ordering, item targeting, person separation index and reliability and differential item functioning. The SCAS-P fit well to the Rasch model in both ADHD and ASD, including unidimensionality, satisfactory category ordering and goodness-of-fit. However, item-person measures showed poor precision at lower levels of anxiety. Some items showed differential item functioning, including items within the obsessive-compulsive, panic/agoraphobia and physical injury fears domains, suggesting that the presentation of anxiety may differ between ADHD and ASD. Overall, the results generally support the use of the SCAS-P to screen and monitor anxiety symptoms in children with ADHD and ASD. Future studies would benefit from examination of more severely anxious NDD cohort, including those with clinically diagnosed anxiety.

Influence of Psycho-Educational Therapy on Anxiety in Children with Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

Cancer is still a significant health problem that causes a high mortality rate worldwide. It affects not only adults but also children. One of the types of cancer commonly suffered by children is leukemia. Chemotherapy is one of the treatments for leukemia. Unfortunately, chemotherapy often leads to issues in children, such as anxiety. This aimed to determine the influence of psycho-Education on anxiety in children with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. This method using a pre-experimental design with one group pretest posttest. The sample was obtained using total sampling, consisting of 25 respondents. Psycho-educational therapy was conducted three times, and it consisted of four sessions in each activity, namely: Session 1 (education about cancer and treatment therapy), Session 2 (effects of chemotherapy), Session 3 (actions and prevention of chemotherapy side effects), and Session 4: stress management (teaching various non-pharmacological stress management techniques). The intervention was administered three times before the scheduled chemotherapy for 15 minutes. The researcher used Anxiety test by using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS). Results: The Wilcoxon test results showed a p-value of 0.001. Based on the research findings, it indicated that there is an influence of Psycho-Educational Therapy on anxiety in children with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy.

Effective reduction of anxiety in hospitalised children through bibliotherapy.

The process of being admitted to a hospital is widely recognised as a distressing encounter for children, frequently resulting in notable levels of anxiety. The main aim was to assess the effectiveness of bibliotherapy in reducing anxiety and to associate anxiety levels with demographic and clinical variables. This study was conducted at a paediatric ward in a tertiary care hospital located in Tamil Nadu, India, for 3 months from 1 August 2023-30 October 2023. In this study, a one-group pre-test and post-test design was employed. A sample of 60 children, aged between 5 and 12 years, was recruited using a convenience sampling method. Spence Children Anxiety Scale was used for assessing anxiety levels. The mean age of the participants was 8.46 ± 1.91 years, and the majority, comprising 57%, were male. Following bibliotherapy, 72% of children showed mild anxiety, 28% showed moderate anxiety and no individual had considerable anxiety. Anxiety scores dropped 27%. Significant associations were found between anxiety reduction and variables such as age, educational status, and type of family. Bibliotherapy was notably effective in substantially reducing anxiety levels among children aged 5-12 years who were admitted to hospitals.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Short-Term Intensive Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) and Schema Therapy for Mothers on Social Anxiety in Children Aged 5 to 6

Objective: Social anxiety disorder is among the most common disorders during childhood and adolescence. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of short-term intensive dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) and schema therapy for mothers on social anxiety in children aged 5 to 6 years in Shahin Shahr. Methods and Materials: This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design, including a control group. The research population consisted of all mothers of children aged 5 to 6 years with social anxiety in Shahin Shahr in 2023, from which 45 individuals were purposively selected based on scoring two standard deviations above the mean on the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (Parent Version) and other entry criteria of the study, and were randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (each containing 15 individuals). One experimental group received 10 weekly sessions of 90 minutes of schema therapy, while the second experimental group underwent 10 weekly sessions of 90 minutes of short-term intensive dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP). The control group did not receive any intervention. The research tool was the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (Parent Version, 1999), completed by the mothers at three stages: pre-test, post-test, and a 3-month follow-up. The obtained data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, mixed-design ANOVA, and Bonferroni post-hoc tests with SPSS software version 24. Findings: The results showed that both treatments were effective in improving children's social anxiety (P<0.01), but the effectiveness of schema therapy for mothers on improving children's social anxiety was greater (P<0.01), and the effectiveness of both treatments was sustained until the end of the follow-up period. Conclusion: Both treatment methods, especially schema therapy for mothers, are effective in improving social anxiety in children and can be utilized.

Exploring the relationship between asthma, its severity and anxiety symptoms in pediatric patients: a case-control study

BackgroundAsthma is a global health concern, especially among children, and is associated with various underlying mechanisms. Childhood exposure to early life stress and anxiety can potentially exacerbate asthma symptoms and complicate its management. While some studies have suggested the benefits of psychological therapies as adjuncts to medication in asthma management, evidence remains inconsistent, emphasizing the need for rigorous evaluation.MethodThis case-control study involved 120 children aged 5–15, with 60 children having asthma and 60 healthy controls. Asthma severity was assessed based on EPR3 guidelines, while anxiety symptoms were measured using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS). Demographic data and asthma-related information were collected via questionnaires. Statistical analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between asthma and anxiety.ResultsChildren with asthma exhibited significantly higher anxiety symptoms compared to those without asthma (p < 0.001). Subdomain analysis revealed elevated scores in separation anxiety (SA; p = 0.025), social phobia (SP; p < 0.001), agoraphobia (p = 0.004), and fears of physical injury (p < 0.001) in children with asthma. Furthermore, increased need for SABA, frequency of nocturnal symptoms, and asthma severity were associated with higher anxiety levels in pediatric asthma patients.ConclusionsThis study highlights a significant association between asthma and heightened anxiety symptoms in children, particularly in domains, such as SA, SP, agoraphobia, and fears related to physical injury. However, limitations include reliance on self-evaluation questionnaires and the observational nature of the study, emphasizing the need for cautious interpretation.

Long-term exposure to greenspace and anxiety from preschool and primary school children

Exposure to greenspace has been associated with mental health benefits in children; however, the available evidence for such an association with anxiety is still scarce. This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate that association on a community cohort of 539 children, from Barcelona province, followed from 3 to 11 years. Long-term exposure to greenspace was characterized at both residential address and school as (i) surrounding greenspace based on satellite-derived indexes (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and Vegetation Continuous Field (VCF) across different buffers and (ii) distance to the nearest green space. We characterized anxiety using the Child Behavior Checklist and the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, and cross-sectionally and longitudinally analyzed the associations between the greenspace exposure and the anxiety, using linear mixed models. Higher greenspace surrounding home and school were associated with lower levels of anxiety. Our findings suggest that increasing exposure to greenspace, specially at schools, could be included in preventive policies to promote mental health in children.

The Prevalence of Anxiety Among Children in Saudi Arabia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The year 2021 was a year that can be perceived as a stressful event given the considerable lifestyle changes that have occurred worldwide due to the pandemic. Several studies have investigated the psychological impact on people during this time period. However, only a few of them have investigated the impact on young children in Saudi Arabia (SA) specifically. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety in children living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This is a cross-sectional study that included the parents of 388 children aged 6-9 years living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was conducted from June to November 2021. The parents completed an electronic survey that included the Arabic version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale. The data were analyzed using John's Macintosh Project (JMP) software version 10.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). A total of 388 responses were collected. The data revealed that 37 (9.5%) participants experienced anxiety. Furthermore, the prevalence of anxiety was higheramong females (5.15%) as compared to males (4.38%), but the difference was not statistically significant. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing the psychological burden in young populations and emphasize the importance of taking children's well-being into account.

Inhibitory Control Training for Anxiety and Math Achievement in Primary School Children: Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Study.

Cognitive control training (CCT) has shown potential to reduce emotional vulnerability in adults and adolescents. However, there is scant literature testing the efficacy of CCT for the reduction of anxiety and transferring the effects to educational outcomes in children. Building on the evidence that a greater ability to suppress a prepotent response (inhibitory control) is associated with higher math achievement in children, it is plausible that training inhibitory processes using a CCT paradigm may be beneficial for reducing anxiety, improving inhibitory control, and in turn increasing math achievement. This proof-of-concept study aims to investigate the efficacy of 15 sessions of inhibitory control training for reduction in anxiety and improvement in math achievement in primary school children. We will use a 2 (group: CCT, adaptive Go/No-Go vs active control, low-load task) multiplied by 4 (time: pre- vs posttraining vs 1-month vs 3-month follow-up) randomized design in a nonselected sample of 100 children aged 8-10 years. Both groups will complete 10 minutes of daily training for 3 weeks at school. The dependent variables will be anxiety and correlates (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire for Children, Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale, Child Response Style Questionnaire, and Modified Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale), inhibitory control (Go/No-Go task), shifting (color-shape shifting task), updating (n-back task), and math achievement (Applied Problems, Calculation, and Math Facts Fluency subtests from the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement). We opened enrollment in September 2023. The initial results are expected to be published in late 2024. We predict that children in the CCT group will show a reduction in emotional symptoms; improvements in inhibition, shifting, and updating performance; and advances in math achievement from pre- to posttraining, and that these effects will be maintained at 1- and 3-month follow-ups, compared to children in the active control group. The CCT paradigm used in our study will provide a greater understanding of the emotional and cognitive transfer effects on children and inform future work. Specifically, the findings will advance the knowledge of deploying inhibitory control training with children and provide valuable insights into its use for reducing anxiety and advancing math achievement. Open Science Framework ofs.io/de2qa; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/DE2QA. PRR1-10.2196/52929.

The effects of a Journey of the Brave Counseling Program on anxiety, well-being, and life adjustment in Taiwanese children

The purposes of the current study are two-fold. Study 1 aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) in a Taiwanese sample. Study 2 aimed to explore the immediate and follow-up effects of Journey of the Brave Counseling Program (JBCP) on children’s’ anxiety, well-being, and life adjustment. A review and suggestions were provided for future research and practitioners in educational and counseling fields as reference. In Study 1, the pilot study included 150 to 200 children between ages 11 and 12 in Taoyuan City. In Study 2, we conducted a pretest-posttest nonequivalent groups quasi-experimental design. The participants in this stage were 16 children in an elementary school in Taoyuan City, between ages 11 and 12. After obtaining consent forms from the participants’ guardians, we randomly assigned these participants to an experimental group (N = 8) and a control group (N = 8). The experimental group received a 40-minute JBCP session weekly for ten weeks. The control group received a 40-minute career exploration small group counseling weekly for ten weeks. We administered the SCAS, Psychological Well-Being Scale, and School Life Adjustment Scale in the pretest, posttest, and follow-up test to measure change of anxiety, well-being, and life adjustment of the participants. In addition, the current study implemented some qualitative data, such as group progress notes, group member feedback questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews with participants’ homeroom teachers as supplementary data to clarify the effects of the JBCP. In Study 1, we found that the SCAS had a good validity and reliability for Taiwanese children. The results of Study 2 indicated that the JBCP had immediate and follow-up effects on the separation anxiety in the experimental group. With the pretest impact eliminated, the immediate and follow-up effects on overall anxiety in the experimental group were better than those on the control group. However, even though the immediate and follow-up effects of the JBCP on the experimental group were better than the control group but were not significant. Besides, the group member feedback questionnaires and participants’ homeroom teachers all indicated that the experimental group participants had positive attitude toward the JBCP, and they also positively improved their emotions and interpersonal relationships with others.

The Application of Playing Therapy with Video Media on The Anxiety of Pre-School Age Children Due to Hospitalization in Regional Hospital dr. Soeratno Gemolong

Background: Hospitalization of preschool children is an emergency process, to be treated in a health facility. One of the impacts arising from hospitalization is in the form of anxiety, anxiety in children should not be underestimated, because it has the potential to hinder the child's health recovery process. It is especially important for managing anxiety in children undergoing hospitalization. Efforts that can be made on children's anxiety due to hospitalization can be overcome by playing therapy. Objective: The purpose of this study was the implementation of storytelling play therapy with video media on the level of anxiety due to hospitalization. Methods : Using a case study design, subjects to 2 preschool aged children (3-6 years) with inclusion and exclusion criteria, a measuring tool for anxiety using the SCAS anxiety scale (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale) to measure the respondent's anxiety level and the application of storytelling therapy with video media is given for approximately 10 minutes every day for 3 consecutive days. Results: Storytelling play therapy with video media in preschool-aged children (3-6 years) can reduce anxiety levels due to hospitalization. Conclusion: Storytelling therapy with video media has significant results in reducing anxiety in preschool-aged children who experience hospitalization.

Validity and reliability of the Japanese versions of the coronavirus anxiety scale for adolescents and obsession with COVID-19 scale for adolescents.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused mental health issues in both adults and adolescents. The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) and Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) questionnaires measure anxiety and persistent and disturbed thoughts (also known as obsessions) related to COVID-19. We developed Japanese versions of the CAS (i.e., CAS-JA) and OCS (i.e., OCS-JA) questionnaires to make them suitable for adolescents and validated the characteristics of these scales. Two online surveys were administered to high school students aged 15-18 years. A total of 263 students participated in the first survey and almost half of them participated in the second survey. In the first survey, participants responded to the CAS-JA, OCS-JA, generalized anxiety and obsessive-compulsive subscales of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS), and Kessler 6 Scale (K6). The SCAS and K6 were used to verify discriminant validity and inter-scale correlations. In the second survey, the participants completed the CAS-JA and OCS-JA again to verify test-retest reliability. We performed a confirmatory factor analysis and calculated the model fit indices. Additionally, we examined the internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and inter-item correlations of the CAS-JA and OCS-JA. Moreover, differences in CAS-JA and OCS-JA responses by gender and region of residence (state of emergency and non-emergency areas) were examined. The results of the single-factor model confirmatory factor analysis of model fit indices were above the threshold. The required criteria for internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, and discriminant and convergent validity were met in both the CAS-JA and OCS-JA. No statistically significant differences attributed to residence and gender were found in both questionnaires. The results indicate that the CAS-JA and OCS-JA questionnaires are useful in measuring COVID-19-related anxiety, and persistent and disturbed thoughts in Japanese adolescents.

Sensory processing in Sotos syndrome and Tatton-Brown-Rahman Syndrome.

Sotos syndrome (Sotos) and Tatton-Brown-Rahman Syndrome (TBRS) are two of the most common overgrowth disorders associated with intellectual disability. Individuals with these syndromes tend to have similar cognitive profiles and high likelihood of autism symptomatology. However, whether and how sensory processing is affected is currently unknown. Parents/caregivers of 36 children with Sotos and 20 children with TBRS completed the Child Sensory Profile-2 (CSP-2) and the Sensory Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) along with other standardized questionnaires assessing autistic traits (Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition, SRS-2), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits (Conners 3), anxiety (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, Parent Version, SCAS-P), and adaptive behavior (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Third Edition). Sensory processing differences were clearly evident in both syndromes, though there was significant variation in both cohorts. SBQ data indicated that both the frequency and impact of sensory behavior were more severe when compared to neurotypicals, with levels of sensory behavior impact and frequency being similar to autistic children. CSP-2 data indicated 77% of children with Sotos and 85% children with TBRS displayed clear differences in sensory Registration (missing sensory input). Clear differences relating to Body Position (proprioceptive response to joint and muscle position; 79% Sotos; 90% TBRS) and Touch (somatosensory response to touch on skin; 56% Sotos; 60% TBRS) were also particularly prevalent. Correlation analyses demonstrated that in both syndromes sensory processing differences tend to be associated with difficulties relating to autistic traits, anxiety, and some domains of ADHD. In Sotos, sensory processing differences were also associated with lower adaptive behavior skills. This first detailed assessment of sensory processing, alongside other clinical features, in relatively large cohorts of children with Sotos and TBRS, demonstrates that sensory processing differences have a profound impact on everyday life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale: A 25-Year Systematic Review.

The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) is one of the most used instruments to assess anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. Extensive research has been conducted to examine its psychometric properties and to develop other versions of the scale. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the SCAS across different versions and populations. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered. APA PsycINFO, Web of Science (Core Collection) and MEDLINE (PubMed) were searched. Fifty-two studies were included in this systematic review. They examined the factor structure, convergent and divergent validity, and internal consistency of the scale. The most supported model was the original six-factor model, followed by the higher order six-factor model for the long version of the SCAS. Studies provided evidence of convergent validity and internal consistency. It is concluded that the SCAS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents, with a six-factor model structure well supported in most populations. Further research on the psychometric properties and factor structure of other versions of the scale and its application to clinical populations is warranted.

Body mass index variation in adults with Williams syndrome: associations with predicted dietary intake and food behaviors.

Dietary intake and body weight are important predictors of long-term health. However, few studies have focused on these topics in adults with genetic syndromes that have associated intellectual disability, such as Williams syndrome (WS). In adults with WS, describe predicted dietary intake, food-related problems, and associations between body mass index (BMI) and possible factors contributing to differences in weight status. In this study of 82 participants (median age of 30 years, range 18-69), we cross sectionally investigated associations between BMI, predicted dietary intakes (Dietary Screener Questionnaire), food-related behaviors (Food-Related Problem Questionnaire), and anxiety (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale). Longitudinal patterns of weight change were further studied in a subset (n = 41). BMI variation was observed with median BMI of 27.3 kg/m2 (range 16.7-55.5 kg/m2). Several components of dietary intake deviated from recommendations in the WS cohort. When compared with WS participants with either normal or overweight BMI, WS participants with obesity had reduced daily intake of fruits and vegetables of 0.15 cup equivalents (P = 0.049), while participants with underweight BMI had reduced daily intake of fruits and vegetables of 0.44 cup equivalents (P = 0.026) and additionally had reduced intake of dietary fiber of 2.12 grams per day (P = 0.019). A one-point increase in the 'preoccupation with food' sub-score was associated with a 0.57 unit increase in BMI (P = 0.16), while a one-point increase in the 'takes and stores food' sub-score was associated with a 0.72 unit increase in BMI. In the longitudinal weight subset, a weight gain group and a weight stable group were identified. The former was associated with increased 'takes and stores food' sub-score but not with dietary intakes. We observed considerable BMI variability. While few dietary intakes were associated with BMI, increased BMI and weight gain were associated with 'preoccupation with food' and with 'takes and stores food' behavior sub-scores.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects the psychological and behavioural development of children-a case-control study.

This study aims to investigate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea on paediatric psychological and behavioural abnormalities. A total of 1086 paediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea and 728 sample snoring controls were enrolled in the study. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea underwent bilateral tonsillectomy plus adenoidectomy or adenoidectomy alone. Repeated Autism Behaviour Checklist, Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, and Children's Depression Inventory were performed to assess the autism symptoms, anxiety level and depressive symptoms before and after surgery. The score of Autism Behaviour Checklist in preschool children with obstructive sleep apnea was higher than that in control. In school children with obstructive sleep apnea, the score of Spence Children's Anxiety Scale was also higher. School children with obstructive sleep apnea with depressive symptoms were significantly higher than that in control. The scores of Autism Behaviour Checklist, Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, and Children's Depression Inventory in the obstructive sleep apnea group after surgery were significantly lower than that before surgery. Our study showed that the score of Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and Children's Depression Inventory had a close correlation with the illness course and hypoxia duration. The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and Children's Depression Inventory scores are also closely associated with the Autism Behaviour Checklist score. These results suggest that obstructive sleep apnea may have a significant impact on autism symptoms, anxiety levels and depressive symptoms in children. We found that the longer the duration of the obstructive sleep apnea course and hypoxia, the greater the impact on anxiety level and depressive symptoms. The suspected autism symptoms, anxiety level and depressive symptoms in children with obstructive sleep apnea were also significantly correlated. Thus, early detection and timely treatment may often reverse the psychological and behavioural abnormalities caused by obstructive sleep apnea.

Emotion-focused skills training for parents with anxious children. A pilot study.

Anxiety disorders are common among children and adolescents. Effective treatments exist, but meta-analyses indicate that 40% of children continue to have significant symptoms posttreatment. Alternative therapeutic interventions are needed. Emotion-focused parental interventions have been found to be effective in targeting children's internalizing difficulties, but no research has examined remission. In this pilot trial, we examined whether Emotion Focused Skills Training (EFST) was associated with remission of diagnosis in children with anxiety. Nine 8-14-year-olds diagnosed with anxiety were recruited at a mental health clinic in Norway. Both parents of each child attended a 2-day EFST program followed by five 1-hour weekly sessions. Pre- and posttreatment diagnosis and severity were evaluated using a multiinformant approach using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule. After treatment, 33% no longer met criteria for any anxiety diagnosis, 66% obtained remission from their primary anxiety diagnosis, and 89% from at least one.

Effects of psychosocial function in pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Research on the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on psychosocial function in patients with pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the psychological status of patients with PIBD before and during the pandemic, and the relationship between mental health and disease activity. This study was a retrospective cohort study. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the relationship between demographic, clinical data and psychological data (questionnaires) of PIBD patients before and during the epidemic. The anxiety and depression emotional status of the guardians during the pandemic were evaluated. In the PIBD follow-up cohort, 42 patients(male 61.9%) were included. Female with PIBD had lower pediatric quality of life inventory(PedsQL) scores (P = 0.007) and higher spence children's anxiety scale(SCAS) scores (P = 0.038) than male. The pandemic did not have a substantial impact on PedsQL, pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI), SCAS, or children's depression inventory(CDI) in patients with PIBD. The self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) score, anxiety rate, self-rating depression scale(SDS) score, and depression rate of PIBD guardians were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (SAS, P = 0.008; SDS, P = 0.001). Female children with PIBD were more vulnerable to decreased QOL and increased anxiety than male children. The anxiety and depression status of PIBD guardians were significantly higher than those of healthy controls during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly affect quality of life(QOL), sleep, anxiety, or depressive mood of patients with PIBD in our study.

Mathematics difficulties are related to mathematics anxiety in children with epilepsy: An online study

AimChildren with epilepsy have an increased risk of difficulties with mathematics. Research into the mathematics difficulties of children with epilepsy, however, is limited. This study sought to determine whether the mathematics difficulties of children with epilepsy are related to mathematics anxiety over and above other previously identified factors (reading difficulties, generalized anxiety, and working memory). MethodSeventy-nine parents of children with epilepsy and 72 parents of typically developing children completed online questionnaires on their child’s mathematics and reading difficulties (CLDQ; Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire), mathematics anxiety (mAMAS; Modified Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale), general anxiety (SCAS; Spence Child Anxiety Scale), and working memory (BRIEF-2; Brief Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2nd Edition). Questionnaires also collected demographic information and epilepsy variables. ResultsChildren with epilepsy had higher scores on the CLDQ mathematics subscale (CLDQm) and the mAMAS compared to typically developing children. Younger age of epilepsy onset, higher seizure frequency, and a greater number of anti-seizure medications accounted for 20.4% of the variance on the CLDQm. The CLDQ reading subscale (CLDQr) justified an additional 14% of the variance on the CLDQm. Finally, the mAMAS explained 20.2% of the variance on the CLDQm, after controlling for epilepsy variables and CLDQr. In contrast, the BRIEF-2 and SCAS did not account for a significant amount of variance on the CLDQm. SignificanceMathematics anxiety is the most significant contributor to mathematics difficulties experienced by children with epilepsy. Difficulties with reading and epilepsy factors also have significant, albeit smaller contributions to mathematics difficulties in this clinical population. Given the multiplicity of factors contributing to mathematics difficulties, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment is needed.

What are the potential impacts of work-study conflict for adolescents’ mental health? Findings from a national Australian cohort study

ABSTRACT Around half of all Australian adolescents combine their final years of secondary education with a part-time job and this may be creating pressure that impacts their mental health. However, there is virtually no national population-based research investigating how work-study conflicts for young people might adversely affect mental health. This study used data from Wave 7 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), including 996 adolescents (16–17 years, 44% males) who were working and studying concurrently in secondary school. The extent of work-study conflict was measured using a four-item scale. Depression and anxiety levels were assessed using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) and the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS). Associations were tested using Linear Regression, adjusting for a range of covariates (including psychosocial job quality and prior wave 6 depression/anxiety). Half of all students reported experiencing at least one indicator of work-study conflict. After adjusting for covariates (including prior depression/anxiety), work-study conflicts were significantly associated with greater depression (β = .33, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = .26, p < 0.001). Many young Australians are having difficulties balancing their work and study commitments in their final secondary school years, and this is associated with greater depression and anxiety.

Comparing the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and parent-child interaction therapy on Parent-child interaction in children with separation anxiety disorder

Background and Aim: Anxiety disorders have significant negative effects on children's academic performance, relationships with peers, and family functioning. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and parent-child interaction therapy on Parent-child interaction in children with separation anxiety disorder. Methods: The current research was of the type of practical and quasi-experimental designs of pre-test-post-test and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population of this research included all children (girls and boys) suffering from separation anxiety disorder in Sari city in the first six months of 2021. The sample of this research includes 30 people who referred to Bamdad Counseling Center and Bavar Counseling Center who were selected using available sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental groups of cognitive-behavioral therapy and parent-child interaction therapy and the control group in the list. They waited. The data were obtained using the Strauss Parent-child interaction Questionnaire (1990), Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (1997). The data was analyzed using the method of analysis of variance with repeated measurements and SPSS-26 software. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups of cognitive-behavioral therapy and parent-child interaction therapy on Parent-child interaction in children with separation anxiety disorder (F=14.09; P&lt;0.001). And cognitive behavioral therapy had a greater effect than parent-child interaction therapy on Parent-child interaction in children with separation anxiety disorder (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that cognitive behavioral therapy can be an effective intervention method to improve Parent-child interaction in children with separation anxiety disorder.