Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | 3162 - Clinical Manifestations of Social and Academic Functioning in Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders |
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| Contribution code | PS01-08 (P) |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
OBJECTIVES: Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent during adolescence. Adolescents go through a critical period of transition with increasing demands across different role domains. Although, the literature points out that anxiety symptoms are negatively related to both social and academic functioning, The extent to which anxiety disorders are related to social and academic adjustment in adolescence is however, relatively unknown. More insight into social and academic difficulties is important in order to identify impediments during this developmental period as well as to design intervention strategies directed at this specific age group. Therefore, we aim to systematically examine the extent of problems in social and academic functioning for adolescents with anxiety disorders across published studies. METHOD: Electronic databases were searched up to February 2016, with keywords representing anxiety disorders, adolescents and social or academic functioning. The inclusion criteria were studies with a representative sample of adolescents (10-19 years) with anxiety disorders that provided data on their social or academic functioning. 2673 titles were examined, which yielded 13 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Studies had an average to good study quality. A lower social competence for adolescents with anxiety disorders relative to their healthy peers was found. They also experience more negativity (i.e. interpersonal problems, victimization) within peer relations and clinical levels of loneliness. Academic performance of adolescents with anxiety disorders is comparable to healthy peers, but they have a higher risk for school refusal and less often enter higher education. Impairment in social and academic functioning may differ across gender, type and number of anxiety disorders. CONCLUSION: This systematic review of the current literature indicates that adolescents with anxiety disorders experience problems in both social and academic functioning. Difficulties within these role domains are not limited to social anxiety disorders, but are apparent across all anxiety disorders. These findings imply that the clinical treatment of anxiety disorders should involve assessment of specific problem areas adolescents face, as well as a step-wise approach to improve functioning across role domains. |