The development of worry throughout childhood: Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children data

Abstract

Objectives Anxiety is a normal part of childhood and adolescence; however, longitudinal research investigating the development of worrisome thoughts throughout childhood is lacking. This study investigated mothers' perspectives on their child's normal development of worry as the cognitive component of anxiety and its impact on child functioning in a longitudinal population-based cohort. Methods The data for this study were extracted from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Mothers (N = 2,227) reported on their child's worry content, frequency, control, emotional disruption, and interference when their child was 7, 10, and 13 years old using the parent component of the Development and Well-being Assessment. At age 10 and 13, pubertal status was assessed using children's self-report of pubic hair developmental progress. Results Mothers reported a peak of worrisome thoughts at 10. Emotional disruption was highest at 10, and the highest level of interference in daily life was observed at 13, especially for girls. Advanced pubertal status and worry frequency were positively associated for boys at 10 and girls at 13. Advanced puberty at 10 was also associated with overall higher worry frequency and emotional disruption. Conclusions Findings are discussed within a developmental framework outlining the normal development of worrisome thoughts, associated distress, and interference throughout early adolescence. Increased knowledge of normative worry could be informative to further our understanding of adolescence as a vulnerable period for the development of mental health problems, such as generalized anxiety disorder. © 2015 The British Psychological Society

Anxiety Disorders Among Women: A Female Lifespan Approach

“…The peak frequency of “worry cognitions” occurred at age 10 in boys and girls. Among girls, highest level of interference with daily life occurred at age 13, while it decreased in boys (37). While this study did not assess GAD specifically, worry cognitions are a key facet of GAD.…”

A Cognitive Model of Pathological Worry in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

“…However, few studies have directly examined the moderating role of age in the development of worry in youth, highlighting an important gap in the literature. Future research should aim to investigate the impact of age or assess other developmental markers such as level of cognitive development attained through conservation and logical reasoning tasks (Frala et al 2014), or questions regarding puberty (Caes et al 2016), which may have an important influence on the development of worry in youth. Integrating a developmental framework would emphasise that a child is continuously changing and evolving over time and would provide a better understanding of the trajectory of worry across childhood and adolescence.…”

“…In one study, for instance, a gender difference in worry frequency had emerged by age ten, but was not present at age seven, whilst gender differences in the interference caused by worry had emerged by age 13. Pubertal development in females was associated with worry frequency, with those 13-year-olds with advanced pubertal timing experiencing greater worry frequency (Caes et al 2016).…”

“…The content of worries in children and adolescents is wide ranging and typically involves issues relating to school, relationships, health, as well as interpersonal and social problems (Muris et al 1998;Silverman et al 1995). Females tend to report higher levels and frequencies of worry compared with males (Barahmand 2008;Caes et al 2016;Muris et al 2001). In one study, for instance, a gender difference in worry frequency had emerged by age ten, but was not present at age seven, whilst gender differences in the interference caused by worry had emerged by age 13.…”

Everyday worry in adolescents with and without chronic pain: a diary study

“…Anxiety is common during childhood (Costello, Mustillo, Erkanli, Keeler, & Angold, 2003) and is composed of cognitive, behavioural, and physiological responses to a perceived or anticipated threat (Warwick & Salkovskis, 1990). Worry, an important feature of anxiety, can represent a developmental concern of perceived and anticipated threat during adolescence, and is higher in girls (Caes, Fisher, Clinch, Tobias, & Eccleston, 2016;Szabo & Lovibond, 2004).…”