Abstract
This longitudinal study examined the additive and interactive effects of behavioral inhibition and a wide range of other vulnerability
factors in the development of anxiety problems in youths. A sample of 261 children, aged 5 to 8 years, 124 behaviorally inhibited
and 137 control children, were followed during a 3-year period. Assessments took place on three occasions to measure children’s
level of behavioral inhibition, anxiety disorder symptoms, other psychopathological symptoms, and a number of other vulnerability
factors such as insecure attachment, negative parenting styles, adverse life events, and parental anxiety. Results obtained
with Structural Equation Modeling indicated that behavioral inhibition primarily acted as a specific risk factor for the development
of social anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, the longitudinal model showed additive as well as interactive effects for various
vulnerability factors on the development of anxiety symptoms. That is, main effects of anxious rearing and parental trait
anxiety were found, whereas behavioral inhibition and attachment had an interactive effect on anxiety symptomatology. Moreover,
behavioral inhibition itself was also influenced by some of the vulnerability factors. These results provide support for dynamic,
multifactorial models for the etiology of child anxiety problems.
factors in the development of anxiety problems in youths. A sample of 261 children, aged 5 to 8 years, 124 behaviorally inhibited
and 137 control children, were followed during a 3-year period. Assessments took place on three occasions to measure children’s
level of behavioral inhibition, anxiety disorder symptoms, other psychopathological symptoms, and a number of other vulnerability
factors such as insecure attachment, negative parenting styles, adverse life events, and parental anxiety. Results obtained
with Structural Equation Modeling indicated that behavioral inhibition primarily acted as a specific risk factor for the development
of social anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, the longitudinal model showed additive as well as interactive effects for various
vulnerability factors on the development of anxiety symptoms. That is, main effects of anxious rearing and parental trait
anxiety were found, whereas behavioral inhibition and attachment had an interactive effect on anxiety symptomatology. Moreover,
behavioral inhibition itself was also influenced by some of the vulnerability factors. These results provide support for dynamic,
multifactorial models for the etiology of child anxiety problems.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10826-010-9365-8
- Authors
- Peter Muris, Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, Suite T13-37, P.O. Box 1738, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Anna M. L. van Brakel, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Arnoud Arntz, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Erik Schouten, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Child and Family Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-2843
- Print ISSN 1062-1024