An examination of the tripartite model of anxiety and depression in an outpatient sample of adolescents.
Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common mental health problems for adolescents; understanding their etiology and course is necessary for developing effective prevention and treatment programs. The tripartite model of anxiety and depression was evaluated in a random, clinical sample of 185 adolescents, with an average age of 15.09 years (SD = 1.9), with 58.4% males (n = 108). Survey packets were mailed to participants (61% response rate). Two models were evaluated: (a) Model one fit adequately, however, modification indices and prior research and theory suggested adding paths between anxiety and depression. (b) Model two tested paths between anxiety and depression; this revised model fit the data well, suggesting a relationship from anxiety to depression. Further, physiological hyperarousal may be a distinct component for anxiety and negative affectivity may be a general risk factor for anxiety and depression in adolescents. The findings that different factors contribute to the cause of anxiety and depression have implications for practice.
Dia
David A
DA
College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. ddia@utk.edu
Harrington
Donna
D
Silverman
Wendy K
WK
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors