Correlates of Behavioral Problems among Youth with Anxiety

More information is needed to elucidate factors related to anxiety and behavioral problems among adolescents to inform those developing interventions. Reduced levels of parental stress and a supportive parent-adolescent relationship may be positively associated with anxiety and behavioral problems while experiencing adverse childhood events typically is negatively associated with anxiety and behavioral problems. This study investigated correlates of behavioral problems among youth with anxiety. Secondary data analyses were performed using a sample of 2,285 youth (10–17 years) whose parents reported that they currently had anxiety and behavioral problems from the 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health. Two multivariable logistic regressions examined the associations between four predictors: anxiety severity (mild or moderate/severe), adverse childhood experiences (0 ACEs, 1 ACE, ≥ 2 ACEs), parental stress (always or seldom stressed from parenting role), and emotional support for parents (Yes or No) and outcome variables (parent report of current or past behavioral problems for youth with anxiety). Results were similar for the two regression models. Specifically, participants who had severe/moderate anxiety, were exposed to more traumatic events (≥2 ACEs), lived with parents who were always stressed from parenting roles, and resided with parents who did not receive emotional support with parenting were more likely to have behavioral problems. Interventions are needed to reduce parental stress and provide emotional support for parents whose children experience anxiety and behavioral problems. Highlights Exposure to two or more traumatic events increased the likelihood of behavioral problems among youth with anxiety. Parental stress is related to behavioral problems among youth with anxiety. The association of risk factors for anxiety and behavioral problems were significant for males, youth who were black, and younger youth (10–13 years). Emotional support for parents is a protective factor for behavioral problems among youth with anxiety.