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Temperamental Dimension and Anxiety Problems in a Clinical Sample of Three- to Six-year old Children: A Study of Variables

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Andrés Laredo ,
María Claustre Jané ,
Ferran Viñas ,
Mercé Mitjavila ,
Ester Pla ,
Maite Pi ,
Gloria Ruiz  and
Edelmira Domènech
Andrés Laredo*
Affiliation:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
María Claustre Jané
Affiliation:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Ferran Viñas
Affiliation:
Universitat de Girona
Mercé Mitjavila
Affiliation:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Ester Pla
Affiliation:
Centre de Diagnòstic i Atenció Precoz d'Olot
Maite Pi
Affiliation:
Centre de Salut Mental Infanto-Juvenil de Girona
Gloria Ruiz
Affiliation:
Centre de Diagnòstic i Atenció Precoç de Sabadell. Consorci Hospitalari Parc Taulí
Edelmira Domènech
Affiliation:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
*
Address correspondence concerning this article to: Andrés Laredo García, Departament de Psicologia Clínica i de la Salut, Facultat de Psicologia. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Spain). E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

In the last few years, many researchers have studied the presence of common dimensions of temperament in subjects with symptoms of anxiety. The aim of this study is to examine the association between temperamental dimensions (high negative affect and activity level) and anxiety problems in clinical preschool children. A total of 38 children, ages 3 to 6 years, from the Infant and Adolescent Mental Health Center of Girona and the Center of Diagnosis and Early Attention of Sabadell and Olot were evaluated by parents and psychologists. Their parents completed several screening scales and, subsequently, clinical child psychopathology professionals carried out diagnostic interviews with children from the sample who presented signs of anxiety. Findings showed that children with high levels of negative affect and low activity level have pronounced symptoms of anxiety. However, children with anxiety disorders do not present different temperament styles from their peers without these pathologies.

En los últimos años, diversos investigadores han estudiado la presencia de dimensiones temperamentales comunes en sujetos con sintomatología ansiosa. El objetivo del presente estudio es examinar la asociación entre dimensiones temperamentales (afecto negativo y nivel de actividad) y problemas de ansiedad en niños clínicos preescolares. Un total de 38 niños de 3 a 6 años de edad, pertenecientes al Centro de Salud Mental Infanto-Juvenil de Girona y al Centro de Diagnóstico y Atención Precoz de Sabadell y Olot, fueron evaluados por sus padres y por psicólogos. Los padres contestaron a diversas escalas de cribaje y, posteriormente, diversos profesionales en psicopatología clínica infantil realizaron entrevistas diagnósticas a los niños de la muestra que presentaban indicios de ansiedad. Los hallazgos obtenidos muestran que los niños con elevados niveles de afecto negativo y bajos niveles de actividad presentan elevada sintomatología ansiosa. Sin embargo, los niños con trastornos de ansiedad no presentan un estilo temperamental distinto al de los niños sin estas patologías.

Keywords

temperamentnegative affectactivity levelpreschool ageanxiety symptomsanxiety disorderstemperamentoafecto negativonivel de actividadedad preescolarsintomatología ansiosatrastornos de ansiedad
Type
Articles
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , November 2007 , pp. 399 - 407
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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