Factors Influencing Adolescent Anxiety: The Roles of Mothers, Teachers and Peers

Abstract

Grounded in social–ecological system theory, the present study tested the mediating effects of maternal psychological flexibility and mother–adolescent attachment on the relationship between maternal adult attachment and adolescent anxiety as well as the moderating effects of teacher support and peer support on the relationship between mother–adolescent attachment and adolescent anxiety. In total, 1139 Chinese mothers and adolescents completed a set of questionnaires, including the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, Parental Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire, Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The results revealed that maternal adult attachment had a positive impact on adolescent anxiety. The relationship between maternal adult attachment and adolescent anxiety was chain mediated by maternal psychological flexibility and mother–adolescent attachment. In addition, teacher support and peer support had moderating effects on the relationship between mother–adolescent attachment and adolescent anxiety. These findings support the systematic social ecosystem perspective and highlight the differences in the effects of different maternal adult attachment styles, teacher support, and peer support on adolescent anxiety.

The role of peer relationships in adolescents’ psychological well-being

“…Parental psychological adaptation and the motheradolescent attachment chain served as mediators in the connection between parental adult attachment and teenage anxiety. Additionally, peer and teacher support reduced the link between mother-adolescent attachment and adolescent anxiety [11]. The results strongly support that when adolescents' psychological well-being is compromised by poor mother-adolescent attachment, peer relationship helps to moderate the negative impacts of it on adolescent anxiety, which further proves that peer relationship matters to adolescents' psychological well-being in a large extent.…”

“…Peer interactions can also act as a barrier between youngsters and their dysfunctional parents. The mediating effects of peer and teacher support on the link between mother-adolescent attachment and teenage anxiety and the mediating effects of maternal psychological flexibility on the link between maternal adult attachment and adolescent anxiety were examined in the study by Xin et al [11]. In the study, a convenience sample approach was employed with a group of families, and 1139 Chinese moms and adolescents who were participants were provided questionnaires that were scale-conforming to several scales.…”

Association between attachment and hoarding behavior: Mediation of anthropomorphism and moderation of hoarding beliefs among Chinese adolescents

“…A reason for this phenomenon can be that the hoarding beliefs of adolescents with low attachment anxiety diverge with different development experiences (Taylor et al, 2019). Consistent parenting, peer relationships, and warm, intimate relationships can satisfy low attachment anxiety in adolescents and mitigate their hoarding beliefs (Chen et al, 2021; Millings et al, 2013). Thus, adolescents with low attachment anxiety and low hoarding beliefs do not show a high level of HB and vice versa.…”

Self-medication with anxiolytics and antidepressants: main risk factors and repercussions

“…Based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5, anxiety is defined as an excessive worry present more days than it is absent in a period of six months, difficult to control, associated with symptoms such as: restlessness, ease of fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension and sleep problems, affecting the work, school or social environment, and not attributable to other medical conditions. [13][14][15][16] The anxiety disorders are the most prevalent group of mental illnesses and usually begin before or in early adulthood, which can cause greater cumulative damage and can often be comorbid with each other or with other disorders such as depression or substance abuse. [15][16][17][18] Anxiety disorders have a prevalence of 7.3% worldwide, with an estimated 264 million people suffering from an anxiety disorder, occupying the ninth place in years lost due to disability (population indicator of years lost due to a condition).…”