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Generalized Anxiety Symptoms and Identity Processes in Cross-Cultural Samples of Adolescents from the General Population

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Abstract

Background

Approximately 20 % of adolescents around the world experience mental health problems, most commonly depression or anxiety. High levels of anxiety disorder symptoms can hinder adolescent development, persist into adulthood, and predict negative mental outcomes, such as suicidal ideation and attempts.

Objectives

We analyzed generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms in cross-cultural samples from the general population. We sought to examine cultural and gender differences, and correlates of GAD symptoms in samples of adolescents from six countries located in three different continents (Europe: Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands; Africa: Kenya; Asia: China and Philippines).

Methods

Participants were 3,445 (51 % male) adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years old. They filled self-report measures of GAD symptoms and identity.

Results

First, it was found that the scores on GAD symptoms varied significantly across countries, with Dutch respondents reporting the lowest levels whereas Filipino participants exhibited the highest levels of GAD symptoms. Second, gender differences (i.e., girls reported more GAD symptoms than boys) were significant in each country (as well as in the total sample), with the only exception being that of Kenya. Third, GAD symptoms were significantly related to identity processes and similarities and differences across countries were examined.

Conclusions

This study highlighted that prevalence, gender differences, and correlates of GAD vary across countries. Therefore, it is important when researching GAD symptoms to examine one’s research findings within a global perspective.

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Abbreviations

GAD:

Generalized anxiety disorder

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Acknowledgments

The first author has full access to the study data and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, Martinus J. Langeveldgebouw, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Elisabetta Crocetti, William W. Hale III & Amina Abubakar

  2. Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Radosveta Dimitrova

  3. Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Amina Abubakar

  4. Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China

    Cheng-Hai Gao

  5. Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

    Ivan Jacob Agaloos Pesigan

  6. Miriam College, Quezon City, Philippines

    Ivan Jacob Agaloos Pesigan

  7. De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines

    Ivan Jacob Agaloos Pesigan

Authors
  1. Elisabetta Crocetti
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  2. William W. Hale III
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  3. Radosveta Dimitrova
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  4. Amina Abubakar
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  5. Cheng-Hai Gao
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  6. Ivan Jacob Agaloos Pesigan
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Correspondence to Elisabetta Crocetti.

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Crocetti, E., Hale, W.W., Dimitrova, R. et al. Generalized Anxiety Symptoms and Identity Processes in Cross-Cultural Samples of Adolescents from the General Population. Child Youth Care Forum 44, 159–174 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-014-9275-9

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