Clinical Symptomatology of Anxiety and Family Function in Adolescents—The Self-Esteem Mediator

Abstract

Background: Family, the child’s first environment, shapes their psycho-emotional balance. The literature links adolescent anxiety to family relationships, interactions, and dynamics. The self-esteem of adolescents appears to protect their mental health. Goal: This study examines whether family cohesion and adaptability affect adolescent anxiety symptoms. It also examines whether teen self-esteem mediates this relationship. Method: This cross-sectional, descriptive study included 166 Attica youth aged 12–18 from schools and educational units. The adolescents completed Olson’s FACES-III cohesion and adaptability scale, Spielberger’s STAI-C, Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale, and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Results: Family cohesion, but not adaptability, was negatively correlated with state (rho = −0.25, p = 0.001) and trait (rho = −0.46, p < 0.001) anxiety in the adolescents. Teenagers from extreme families with the lowest cohesion and adaptability had higher trait anxiety (x2(2) = 6.91, p = 0.032) than those from moderately balanced/balanced families. Self-esteem mediated the relationship between the family cohesion functioning and adolescent’s state anxiety (p = 0.005) and trait anxiety (p = 0.011). Conclusions: The findings show that family dysfunction negatively impacts adolescent anxiety, as well as their self-esteem, which protects mental balance.

Self-esteem as a risk factor of anxiety in senior high school students

“…(17) It is important to note that several factors may contribute to the high prevalence of anxiety among senior high school students, possibly including academic pressure, social expectations, family dynamics, and personal experiences. (18)(19)(20) Emotional dysregulation is one of the important factors that affect self-esteem and can cause feelings of anxiety in response to stimuli that the students receive from the surrounding environment. (21) Students with low self-esteem were detected in Vietnamese secondary school students at a prevalence of 19.4%.…”

Integrating Clinical Neuropsychology and Psychotic Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Analysis of Cognitive Dynamics, Interventions, and Underlying Mechanisms

“…The exploration of ACEs as cognitive neuromarkers in psychosis provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between early life adversity, cognitive dysfunction, and the neurobiological underpinnings of psychotic disorders. This perspective not only enhances our understanding of the etiology and progression of psychosis but also informs the development of more effective, personalized treatment and prevention strategies [48,49]. Childhood experiences significantly influence mental health outcomes, with actions or inactions by caregivers potentially leading to trauma through physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, educational challenges, and family loss.…”

“…However, these narratives blur fact and illusion and combine reality and imagination. Psychotic illnesses may be better assessed and treated with neuropsychology, according to growing research [48,49]. Understanding how a condition affects cognitive performance can inform treatment strategies.…”

Clinical Efficacy of Psychotherapeutic Interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Analysis

“…Diagnostic assessments of PTSD in younger populations also face unique challenges, including difficulties in defining what constitutes a traumatic event for this demographic, cognitive limitations that impede the expressive capability regarding their experiences, and a general reluctance to discuss traumatic events due to fear or avoidance tendencies [58]. These diagnostic complexities necessitate therapeutic interventions that are not only robust and evidence-based, but are also flexible and sensitive to the individual needs and developmental stages of children and adolescents.…”