title: Parent vs burn-injured child self-report: contributions to a better understanding of anxiety levels.
abstract: Anxiety disorders are the most commonly reported form of mental health problem among youth, but they often go undiagnosed and untreated. This study examined the relationship between burn-injured youths' self-reported anxiety levels, as compared with their parent's perceptions of their child's emotional well-being. Burn-injured children were invited to voluntarily complete the Child Version of the 41-item survey, Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, which consists of five anxiety subscales as well as a Total Anxiety Score. Parents were invited to complete the Parent Version. Sixty-three parent-child dyads, with girls (57%) and boys (43%), completed surveys. Mothers (73%) fathers (16%), and other caregivers (11%) participated. Youth mean age was 12.63 years and 60% reported visible burn scars. Matched-pairs t-tests were used to compare parent and child reports. Significantly lower mean scores were found between Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders Total Anxiety Score--Parent mean score of 10.52 vs the Youth mean score 21.06 (P<.001), as well as on all subscales including; panic disorder/somatic symptoms (P<.001), generalized anxiety disorder (P=.004), social anxiety disorder (separation anxiety (P<.001), and school avoidance (P<0.001). Results indicate that parents may be severely underestimating the psychological well-being of burn-injured youth. Findings emphasize the importance of a comprehensive approach in assessment for anxiety, involving the collection of feedback from both child and parent. Asking children for input into their psychological well-being is important. This study reinforces the need for a course of ongoing patient and parent education.
authors: From the *Department of Surgery, Arizona Burn Center at Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix; †A.T. Still University; ‡The Arizona Burn Center.
authors: R B
authors: RB
authors: Rimmer
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Bay
authors: I J
authors: IJ
authors: Sadler
authors: N B
authors: NB
authors: Alam
authors: K N
authors: KN
authors: Foster
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Caruso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires