Emotional problems and parenting locus of control in children with anxiety disorders

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To carry out a preliminary study on the emotional problems and parenting locus of control among children with anxiety disorders. METHODS: A total of 110 children with simple anxiety disorders (AD group) and 113 normal children (control group) from September to December 2005 were enrolled. Children were asked to complete the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (DSRSC), the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), and the Parenting Locus of Control Scale (PLOC).A total of 197 valid scales were returned. RESULTS: The scores of somatic, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social phobia anxiety, school phobia anxiety, total anxiety, and total depression were all higher in the AD group than in the control group (P<0.01). The score of "education effects" for parents was significantly higher in the AD group than that in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Children with anxiety disorders tend to have more emotional problems and poorer parental education effects.