Abstract
Adolescents face rapidly changing challenges. Psychosocial health problems during adolescence are relatively common in all
cultures. This study was designed to evaluate the state and trait anxiety status and influencing sociodemographic and other
factors, thought to pertain to youth, on anxiety among school children in Kirikkale. It was carried out at three public primary
and two high schools representative of two different socioeconomic statuses. 430 Turkish school children (246 girls, 184 boys)
were asked voluntarily to answer a set of questionnaires in their classrooms at the beginning of a training programme. Then
the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children was administered. Mean age of the students was 14.16 ± 1.87 years. The
mean total STAI-CS and STAI-CT scores were 40.24 ± 11.64, and 44.71 ± 9.64, respectively. There were no differences in STAI-CS
and STAI-CT scores between boys and girls in both schools and in all age groups. Among girls, a positive body image had a
significant effect on state anxiety scores. There was a positive correlation between age and anxiety scores (r = .17, F:12.176,
p < .001). Students identifying their families SES as bad and/or moderate scored significantly higher in comparison to the
other groups (p < .05). STAI-CS scores were higher for lower educational grade, higher body weight and sleep problems. In
Kirikkale, a city faced with substantial changes in cultural and traditional norms, adolescents could be expected to be under
stress and appear to be responding to stress with anxiety.
cultures. This study was designed to evaluate the state and trait anxiety status and influencing sociodemographic and other
factors, thought to pertain to youth, on anxiety among school children in Kirikkale. It was carried out at three public primary
and two high schools representative of two different socioeconomic statuses. 430 Turkish school children (246 girls, 184 boys)
were asked voluntarily to answer a set of questionnaires in their classrooms at the beginning of a training programme. Then
the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children was administered. Mean age of the students was 14.16 ± 1.87 years. The
mean total STAI-CS and STAI-CT scores were 40.24 ± 11.64, and 44.71 ± 9.64, respectively. There were no differences in STAI-CS
and STAI-CT scores between boys and girls in both schools and in all age groups. Among girls, a positive body image had a
significant effect on state anxiety scores. There was a positive correlation between age and anxiety scores (r = .17, F:12.176,
p < .001). Students identifying their families SES as bad and/or moderate scored significantly higher in comparison to the
other groups (p < .05). STAI-CS scores were higher for lower educational grade, higher body weight and sleep problems. In
Kirikkale, a city faced with substantial changes in cultural and traditional norms, adolescents could be expected to be under
stress and appear to be responding to stress with anxiety.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10880-011-9276-x
- Authors
- Ömer Oğuztürk, Department of Psychiatry, Kirikkale University Medical School, Kirikkale, Turkey
- Selda Hızel Bülbül, Department of Paediatrics, Metabolic Disorders, Social Paediatrics, Kirikkale University Medical School, Kirikkale, Turkey
- Nurper Erberk Özen, Department of Psychiatry, Kirikkale University Medical School, Kirikkale, Turkey
- Mehmet Ekici, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Kirikkale University Medical School, Kirikkale, Turkey
- Kemal Örnek, Department of Ophthalmology, Kirikkale University Medical School, Kirikkale, Turkey
- Erdal Ünlü, Department of Psychiatry, Kirikkale University Medical School, Kirikkale, Turkey
- Serhat Yüksel, Department of Psychiatry, Kirikkale University Medical School, Kirikkale, Turkey
- Journal Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
- Online ISSN 1573-3572
- Print ISSN 1068-9583