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The study was conducted to develop self-report measures of cognitive and somatic trait and state anxiety for children and to evaluate the utility of distinguishing between cognitive and somatic anxiety. Sixty-seven fourth grade children anticipated and then performed a mathematics task either in a high- or low-stress condition. While the children anticipated performing the task, measures of seven cognitive behaviors were obtained by means of both a think aloud procedure and a questionnaire. The results of the study indicated that reliable trait and state measures of cognitive and somatic anxiety were successfully developed. Further, the trait measures of cognitive and somatic anxiety were found to be relatively impervious to induced anxiety states. As expected, cognitive trait anxiety but not somatic trait or state anxiety was found to be related to task performance. High cognitive state and/or trait anxiety was found to be associated with more preoccupation and performance denigration as well as taking less of an analytic attitude toward the situation. Somatic trait and state anxiety were found to be associated with preoccupation. In general, the results support the construct validity of the measures developed and the utility of distinguishing between cognitive and somatic anxiety in children.

Just as many relationships are susceptible to the distorting and distancing effects of stigmatization, so are therapist-parent relationships, particularly in instances where children/youth present with significant mental illness. Therapist awareness and attunement to the dynamics of stigma are critical to the development of engaged therapist-parent alliances, and therapist-parent alliances are key to successful child/youth psychotherapy. Intersubjectivity theory offers a useful lens by which to understand stigma dynamics as mutually reinforced, "co-constructed" experiences between therapists and parents. Applying this perspective provides direction for therapists to work in ways that recognize and reduce the negative impact of stigma dynamics on this important alliance.

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