Potential Sociodemographic Predictors of Childhood Anxiety Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of anxiety among primary school students in rural areas is relatively high. Also, this stage is a critical developmental stage of academic life. Childhood anxiety disorders lead to significant disruption and interference with other aspects of life, including behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and academic achievement. Aims: This study aimed to find the frequency of 6 subtypes of anxiety disorders and to determine the potential sociodemographic factors of anxiety disorders among primary school students in a rural area of Malaysia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 411 students answered the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale-Child version (SCAS-C). Descriptive analyses elucidated at-risk students, and multivariate analysis of variance and multiple linear regression presented potential predictors of anxiety disorders. Results: The most common abnormal level was for social phobia (SP) (n = 109/18.6%), and the least common were panic/agoraphobia (n = 85/14.1%) and physical injury fears (PIF) (n = 82/13.6%). Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that age (P < .05), gender (P < .05), father’s employment (P < .05), and mother’s educational level (EL) P < .05) were predictors of overall anxiety. A Tukey post-hoc test revealed that older children are more likely to suffer from overall anxiety, separation anxiety (SA), SP, and obsessive-compulsive problems. Children of low-income families were less likely to suffer from SA than those of middle-income families. Children of stay-at-home mothers were less likely to suffer from overall anxiety, SA, and SP than mothers who worked more than 8 h per day. Multiple linear regression could predict 6 models of anxiety based on sociodemographic factors. Conclusion: According to our findings in this study, promoting mental health by providing preventive strategies and screening programs is more recommended for students with sociodemographic risk factors for anxiety disorders.