Anxiety in adolescents of a Madrid neighbourhood

Abstract

Objectives. To determine the degree of state-trait anxiety in adolescents and its possible association with several socio-demographic variables. Design. Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting. First semester of 2004. Two state secondary schools in Area 7, Madrid, Spain. Participants. Five hundred fifty nine students from the first to third years of secondary education. Main measurements. Two anonymous multiple-choice tests were given out to fill in during class time: STAIC (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children) and a questionnaire of socio-demographic variables (age, sex, immigration, toxic habits, socioeconomic and family situation, relationships, view of life, and school results). Results. Four hundred forty five tests were valid. Mean age, 13.8 (SD, 1.2); 53.5% were girls, 18.7% immigrants, 20.7% took drugs (alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs), 32.8% had repeated at least 1 year, 14.3% considered their relationship with their family "bad," 15% referred to a "bad" relation with their class mates and 29.5% had a "bad" view of life. A statistically significant association was established between all these variables and anxiety. Conclusions. It is important to know what risk factors are associated with anxiety in order to detect it early and prevent its development to other serious mental disorders. In this study, higher levels of anxiety were found in immigrants, in girls, in drug users, in students in a worse socio-economic situation and in students who have had to repeat a year. This study corroborates the classic risk factors associated with anxiety, but shows that we should take into account a further one: immigration. It also suggests the importance of good family and personal relationships for psychological balance.