Anxiety symptoms and behavioural inhibition in young south african children: a follow-up on parent and teacher reports

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT : The present study is a first follow-up assessment by means of parent and teacher reports in a cohort study conducted by Wege (2014). The study examined the long-term relationship between anxiety symptoms and behavioural inhibition in young South African children with the inclusion of parental overprotection as a moderator variable.The aims of the study were to determine whether the relationship between the anxiety symptoms and behavioural inhibition profiles of the 2012 cohort of young South African children changed within a one year follow-up period, while simultaneously assessing the role of parental overprotection. Parent and teacher reports included a Biographical Questionnaire for Parents, the Behavioural Inhibition Questionnaire, the Revised Preschool Anxiety Scale, and, the Parental Overprotection Measure.A total of 59 children of who 25 were female and 34 male were reported on. They were 3 years old (n = 3), 4 years old (n = 16), 5 years old (n = 22), 6 years old (n = 14) and 7 years old (n = 4).In keeping with previous findings, a positive correlation remained between anxiety symptoms and behavioural inhibition, even after one year. The moderating effect of parental overprotection was less strong than predicted. Nonetheless, a non-significant trend in the hypothesised direction was found: the relationship between behavioural inhibition and anxiety was strongest when simultaneously there were high levels of parental overprotection. The only significant difference found between scores of the initial study and that of the present research was that parents reported significantly lower levels of behavioural inhibition at the one year follow-up. Although at a non-significant level, both parent and teacher reports of anxiety indicated higher levels of anxiety at the year follow-up. Results need to be interpreted with caution in view of the smaller number of participants in the cohort study.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University