Browsing by Subject "Externalizing behaviors"
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Item Externalizing behaviors in youth with anxiety : a replication and extension of previous findings(2019-09-18) Mitchell, Abigail Grace; Stark, Kevin Douglas; Carlson, Cindy; Pustejovsky, James; Smits, JasperThis study examined the nature of externalizing behaviors among 500+ youth ages 7-17 with a primary diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD), and/or Social Phobia (SoP). It builds on previous findings suggesting that externalizing symptoms may be an under-recognized feature of childhood anxiety disorders (Garland & Garland, 2001; Mireault, Rooney, Kouwenhoven, & Hannan, 2008; Williams, Dahan, Silverman, & Pettit, 2013). As a first step, this study employed two exploratory techniques that sought to classify participants into subgroups based on their presentation of externalizing symptoms. Results of a two-step cluster analysis indicated a best-fitting 2-cluster model in which subgroups differed by average severity of aggressive behaviors. Results of the second classification approach, Latent Class Analysis (LCA), indicated a best-fitting 3-class model in which subgroups differed by overall severity of externalizing symptoms. These results were largely similar to a prior study that used the same approach to classify a similar sample of anxious youth (Williams et al., 2013). A comparison of subgroups within each analysis suggested that externalizing problems among anxious youth are related to anxiety severity, anxiety subtype, and to youth age; no relation was found with regard to youth gender. Furthermore, exploratory findings highlighted a handful of specific behaviors that are particularly likely to co-occur with childhood anxiety (e.g., arguing, disobedience, temper tantrums). These behaviors may reflect the youth’s attempt to avoid anxiety-induced distress. A second phase of analysis utilized post-treatment data to examine the relationship between externalizing behaviors and response to anxiety treatment. Contrary to the investigator’s hypothesis, results of regression analyses indicated that externalizing symptoms prior to treatment were not significantly related to child treatment response, suggesting that anxious youth with greater externalizing problems may benefit from treatment as much as those who do not present with these behavioral challenges. Taken together, these findings have implications for the identification, assessment, and treatment of youth anxiety disorders.Item Factors related to the emotional responses of rural school-aged children who have asthma(2014-05) Walker, Veronica Garcia; Horner, Sharon D.Asthma is a complex, chronic disorder of the airways that is characterized by underlying inflammation, airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Asthma symptoms can be frightening and can have an effect on the emotional functioning Quality of Life (QOL) of school-aged children who have asthma. The purpose of this exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study was to explore the influence of factors identified in the literature on school-aged children’s emotional responses to asthma. Guiding this study was a theoretical model that proposed that the impact of chronic illness severity on QOL is potentially mediated by both resource and barrier factors. The population of interest was 85 school-aged children (ages 6-12) and parents of children who have asthma that were recruited from participants already enrolled in year 4 of the Asthma in Central Texas (ACT) study (R01NR007770, Sharon D. Horner, P.I.) at The University of Texas at Austin. Significant inverse correlations were found between asthma related child emotional functioning QOL and each of the following variables: asthma severity, r = -.30, p < .01; child internalizing behaviors, r = -.26, p < .05, and child externalizing behaviors, r = -.43, p < .001. Significant inverse relationships were found between caregiver emotional functioning QOL and each of the following variables: asthma severity, r = -.39, p < .001; child internalizing behaviors, r = -.22, p < .05 and child externalizing behaviors, r = -.25, p < .05. Multiple regression analysis revealed that asthma severity and child externalizing problems accounted for 26% of the variance in child emotional functioning QOL. No moderators or mediators were identified. Findings from this study imply that externalizing problem behaviors of school-aged children may be a predictor of their negative feelings about their asthma. Nursing educators should consider including the emotional impact of asthma on children in nursing curriculums as this may ultimately influence health care providers to more skillfully address this important issue in both assessment and intervention settings.