Anxiety Disorders in Adolescents and Psychosocial Outcomes at Age 30

Overview

Journal J Affect Disord

Date 2014 Jan 25

PMID 24456837

Citations 98

Authors

Cecilia A Essau

Peter M Lewinsohn

Beatriz Olaya

John R Seeley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders are associated with adverse psychosocial functioning, and are predictive of a wide range of psychiatric disorders in adulthood.

Objective: The present study examined the associations between anxiety disorders during childhood and adolescence and psychosocial outcomes at age 30, and sought to address the extent to which psychopathology after age 19 mediated these relations.

Method: Eight hundred and sixteen participants from a large community sample were interviewed twice during adolescence, at age 24, and at age 30. They completed self-report measures of psychosocial functioning and semi-structured diagnostic interviews during adolescence and young adulthood.

Results: Adolescent anxiety predicted poor total adjustment, poor adjustment at work, poor family relationships, problems with the family unit, less life satisfaction, poor coping skills, and more chronic stress. Adolescent anxiety predicted, substance (SUD), alcohol abuse/dependence (AUD), and anxiety in adulthood. No adult psychopathology mediated the relationship between childhood anxiety disorders and psychosocial outcomes at age 30. Adult, SUD, AUD and anxiety mediated the association between adolescent anxiety and most domains of psychosocial functioning at age 30.

Limitations: The participants are ethically and geographically homogenous, and changes in the diagnostic criteria and the interview schedules across the assessment periods.

Conclusion: Adolescent anxiety, compared to childhood anxiety, is associated with more adverse psychosocial outcomes at age 30. Adolescent anxiety affects negative outcomes at age 30 directly and through adult anxiety, SUD and AUD.

Citing Articles

The Longitudinal Relationship Between Self-Esteem, Life Satisfaction, and Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Among Chinese Adolescents: Within- and Between-Person Effects.

Han Z, Chen S, Zhou Y, Liu Y, Guo C Behav Sci (Basel). 2025; 15(2).

PMID: 40001813 PMC: 11851692. DOI: 10.3390/bs15020182.

The association between adaptability and the symptoms of depression and anxiety in early adolescents: a network analysis in a longitudinal design.

Lu G, Zhu L, Huang R, Lai P, Wang C BMC Psychiatry. 2025; 25(1):117.

PMID: 39934705 PMC: 11817081. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-025-06559-z.

Gender difference in anxiety and related factors among adolescents.

Bao C, Han L Front Public Health. 2025; 12():1410086.

PMID: 39830180 PMC: 11738925. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1410086.

Anxiety mediated the relationship between bullying victimization and internet addiction in adolescents, and family support moderated the relationship.

Liu Y, Peng J, Ding J, Wang J, Jin C, Xu L BMC Pediatr. 2025; 25(1):8.

PMID: 39762783 PMC: 11702133. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-05348-z.

Feasibility study of the e-learning version of the "Journey of the Brave:" a universal anxiety-prevention program based on cognitive behavioral therapy.

Ohashi S, Urao Y, Fujiwara K, Koshiba T, Ishikawa S, Shimizu E BMC Psychiatry. 2024; 24(1):806.

PMID: 39543549 PMC: 11566077. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-06264-3.

References

Lewinsohn P, Roberts R, Seeley J, Rohde P, Gotlib I, Hops H . Adolescent psychopathology: II. Psychosocial risk factors for depression. J Abnorm Psychol. 1994; 103(2):302-15. DOI: 10.1037//0021-843x.103.2.302. View

Pine D, Cohen P, Gurley D, Brook J, Ma Y . The risk for early-adulthood anxiety and depressive disorders in adolescents with anxiety and depressive disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998; 55(1):56-64. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.55.1.56. View

Lewinsohn P, Pettit J, Joiner Jr T, Seeley J . The symptomatic expression of major depressive disorder in adolescents and young adults. J Abnorm Psychol. 2003; 112(2):244-52. DOI: 10.1037/0021-843x.112.2.244. View

Reinherz H, Giaconia R, Lefkowitz E, Pakiz B, Frost A . Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a community population of older adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1993; 32(2):369-77. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-199303000-00019. View

Feehan M, McGee R, Williams S . Mental health disorders from age 15 to age 18 years. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1993; 32(6):1118-26. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-199311000-00003. View

Keller M, Lavori P, Wunder J, Beardslee W, Schwartz C, Roth J . Chronic course of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1992; 31(4):595-9. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-199207000-00003. View

Lewinsohn P, Hops H, Roberts R, Seeley J, Andrews J . Adolescent psychopathology: I. Prevalence and incidence of depression and other DSM-III-R disorders in high school students. J Abnorm Psychol. 1993; 102(1):133-44. DOI: 10.1037//0021-843x.102.1.133. View

Wells J, Horwood L . How accurate is recall of key symptoms of depression? A comparison of recall and longitudinal reports. Psychol Med. 2004; 34(6):1001-11. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291703001843. View

Hyde J, Mezulis A, Abramson L . The ABCs of depression: integrating affective, biological, and cognitive models to explain the emergence of the gender difference in depression. Psychol Rev. 2008; 115(2):291-313. DOI: 10.1037/0033-295X.115.2.291. View

10.

Essau C . Comorbidity of anxiety disorders in adolescents. Depress Anxiety. 2003; 18(1):1-6. DOI: 10.1002/da.10107. View

11.

Kessler R, McGonagle K, Zhao S, Nelson C, Hughes M, Eshleman S . Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States. Results from the National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994; 51(1):8-19. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950010008002. View

12.

Wittchen H, Nelson C, Lachner G . Prevalence of mental disorders and psychosocial impairments in adolescents and young adults. Psychol Med. 1998; 28(1):109-26. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291797005928. View

13.

Merikangas K, He J, Burstein M, Swanson S, Avenevoli S, Cui L . Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in U.S. adolescents: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication--Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010; 49(10):980-9. PMC: 2946114. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2010.05.017. View

14.

Essau C . Frequency and patterns of mental health services utilization among adolescents with anxiety and depressive disorders. Depress Anxiety. 2005; 22(3):130-7. DOI: 10.1002/da.20115. View

15.

Karlsson L, Pelkonen M, Ruuttu T, Kiviruusu O, Heila H, Holi M . Current comorbidity among consecutive adolescent psychiatric outpatients with DSM-IV mood disorders. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006; 15(4):220-31. DOI: 10.1007/s00787-006-0526-7. View

16.

Orvaschel H, Chambers W, Tabrizi M, Johnson R . Retrospective assessment of prepubertal major depression with the Kiddie-SADS-e. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry. 1982; 21(4):392-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0002-7138(09)60944-4. View

17.

Zeger S, Liang K . Longitudinal data analysis for discrete and continuous outcomes. Biometrics. 1986; 42(1):121-30. View

18.

Silberg J, Rutter M, Neale M, Eaves L . Genetic moderation of environmental risk for depression and anxiety in adolescent girls. Br J Psychiatry. 2001; 179:116-21. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.179.2.116. View

19.

Procidano M, Heller K . Measures of perceived social support from friends and from family: three validation studies. Am J Community Psychol. 1983; 11(1):1-24. DOI: 10.1007/BF00898416. View

20.

Lewinsohn P, Rohde P, Seeley J . Major depressive disorder in older adolescents: prevalence, risk factors, and clinical implications. Clin Psychol Rev. 1998; 18(7):765-94. DOI: 10.1016/s0272-7358(98)00010-5. View