Document Type

Honors Paper

Publication Date

April 2006

Comments

Appendices removed for on-line publishing due to copyright considerations.

Abstract

The present study examined children at risk for anxiety, analyzing their symptoms, self-esteem, and their perception of parental behavior. Data were collected as part of a large anxiety prevention study conducted at the University of Rhode Island. Elementary and middle school children who were identified as at risk for anxiety through an initial assessment were administered a battery of questionnaires, which included measures for anxiety, self-esteem, somatic symptoms, and perceptions of parental behavior. The primary hypothesis was that children at risk for anxiety would demonstrate low levels of self-esteem, especially if they concurrently displayed somatic symptoms and perceived their parental support as low. Moderating effects were not found in the current study, but there was a significant relationship between anxiety and self-esteem, across a broad range of anxiety symptoms and self-esteem domains. Perceived parental behavior was also related to anxiety. Specifically, higher parental control was related to higher anxiety. Perceived parental behavior was also related to self-esteem. Many differences in parent and child perspectives were noted. These findings may have implications in the future development of prevention and intervention techniques for children at risk for anxiety.

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The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.