Abstract
This paper addresses generalized anxiety disorder in poor families and argues that DSM definitions have led to an expansion
in the domains of what is considered disorder. Social factors, which are importantly involved in many samples used to study
GAD, have been overlooked. This was a secondary analysis of data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 4,898). The findings confirmed that the poorest mothers had greater odds of being classified as having generalized anxiety
disorder. We also conducted a structural equation model. Our findings suggest that anxiety in poor mothers is not psychiatric,
but a reaction to severe environmental deficits. Thus assessment and interventions should be targeted at the environmental
level and diagnostic labels should be used judiciously.
in the domains of what is considered disorder. Social factors, which are importantly involved in many samples used to study
GAD, have been overlooked. This was a secondary analysis of data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 4,898). The findings confirmed that the poorest mothers had greater odds of being classified as having generalized anxiety
disorder. We also conducted a structural equation model. Our findings suggest that anxiety in poor mothers is not psychiatric,
but a reaction to severe environmental deficits. Thus assessment and interventions should be targeted at the environmental
level and diagnostic labels should be used judiciously.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10560-012-0263-3
- Authors
- Judith C. Baer, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- MiSung Kim, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Bonnie Wilkenfeld, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Journal Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2797
- Print ISSN 0738-0151