[Relationship between anxiety and family dynamics].
OBJECTIVE
In the present study we tried to find the likely association between anxiety and a disturbed family dynamic in patients who attended Primary Care for consultation.


METHODS
An observational, crossover study with 150 patients (64.7% women) chosen by systematised random sampling was performed. Patients were grouped in various bivariable categories: sex, marital status, where from, cultural level, occupation, size of family, stage of their life-cycle, family sub-system and income, which were compared with the results from the Stai Anxiety and the Apgar Family tests. 95% significance level; two months data-gathering.


RESULTS
Among the most relevant findings were negative correlation in the value of the Stai Anxiety test vs the Apgar Family test, with r = -0.27 and level of significance between [-0.42 < r < -0.12]. A multivariant study using Dummy type variables found association between Anxiety and being Female, with a Beta coefficient of -6.2172 [CI -10.2044/-2.0342]. There was also association of size of family and disturbed family dynamic, with Beta coeff. = -0.2437 and CI [-0.4706/-0.0168].


CONCLUSIONS
a) There is a correlation between anxiety and disturbed family dynamic. b) Being female is a risk factor, when before anxious patients, of a disturbed family dynamic. c) Family size is also a risk factor, before an anxious patient, of a disturbed family dynamic.
Montalbán Sánchez
J
J
Centro de Salud de Carranque Distrito de Málaga-Oeste.
D001007:Anxiety; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors