How Common Are Anxiety Disorders in Children in Turkey?

What you need to know

• Anxiety disorders affect about 16.7% of children in urban Turkey, or about 1 in 6 children
• The most common anxiety disorder in children is specific phobia, affecting 8.6% of children
• Girls are more likely than boys to have anxiety disorders, especially specific phobias
• Having a parent with physical or mental health issues increases a child’s risk of anxiety disorders
• Anxiety disorders in children often occur alongside other conditions like ADHD and mood disorders

How common are anxiety disorders in children?

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health issues affecting children and adolescents. However, they often go undiagnosed and untreated. To better understand how widespread these disorders are among children in Turkey, researchers conducted a large nationwide study of over 5,800 elementary school students.

The study found that 16.7% of children met criteria for at least one anxiety disorder. This means about 1 in 6 children in urban Turkey may be affected by an anxiety disorder. When the researchers only included cases where the anxiety caused significant impairment in daily life, the rate was 5.2%, or about 1 in 20 children.

What are the most common anxiety disorders in children?

The study looked at several specific types of anxiety disorders. The most common was specific phobia, which affected 8.6% of children. Specific phobias involve an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation, like fear of heights, animals, or needles.

Other anxiety disorders found in the study included:

• Separation anxiety disorder (4%)
• Social anxiety disorder (3.1%)
• Generalized anxiety disorder (2.4%)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (0.4%)
• Panic disorder (0.05%)

Are anxiety disorders more common in girls or boys?

The study found that anxiety disorders were more common overall in girls compared to boys. Specifically, girls were more likely to have:

• Any anxiety disorder (18.1% of girls vs 15.5% of boys)
• Specific phobia (9.6% of girls vs 7.8% of boys)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (0.5% of girls vs 0.3% of boys)

This gender difference matches what other studies have found, with anxiety disorders typically being about twice as common in females compared to males. The reasons for this are not fully understood, but may involve a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

What increases the risk of anxiety disorders in children?

The study identified several factors that were associated with higher rates of anxiety disorders in children:

• Having a mother with a history of physical illness
• Having a mother with a history of mental illness
• Having a father with a history of physical illness
• Lower parental education levels

This suggests that parental health issues and socioeconomic factors may play a role in childhood anxiety. The researchers speculate this could be due to genetic influences, stressful home environments, or reduced access to resources and support.

Interestingly, the study also found that anxiety disorder rates varied by geographic region within Turkey. Rates were highest in the Black Sea region and lowest in the Eastern Anatolia region. The reasons for these regional differences are unclear, but could involve cultural, economic, or environmental factors.

Do anxiety disorders occur alongside other conditions?

The study found that children with anxiety disorders were much more likely to have other mental health conditions as well. Specifically, compared to children without anxiety disorders, those with anxiety were more likely to have:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Disruptive behavior disorders
• Mood disorders (like depression)
• Tic disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Bedwetting (enuresis)
• Intellectual disability

For example, 47.4% of children with anxiety disorders also had ADHD, compared to only 10.5% of children without anxiety disorders. This high rate of co-occurring conditions highlights the complexity of anxiety disorders in children and the importance of comprehensive evaluation.

Why is recognizing childhood anxiety important?

Identifying and treating anxiety disorders early in childhood is crucial for several reasons:

1. Anxiety can significantly impair a child’s social and academic functioning if left untreated.

2. Childhood anxiety often continues into adulthood if not addressed.

3. Anxiety disorders increase the risk of other mental health issues like depression and substance abuse later in life.

4. Effective treatments are available, especially if started early.

5. Treatment can prevent long-term negative impacts on social skills, self-esteem, and overall quality of life.

Conclusions

• Anxiety disorders affect a substantial number of children in Turkey - about 1 in 6 overall.
• Specific phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder in children.
• Girls are more likely than boys to develop anxiety disorders.
• Parental health issues and socioeconomic factors may increase risk of childhood anxiety.
• Anxiety disorders often co-occur with other conditions like ADHD and mood disorders.

This large-scale study provides valuable information on the prevalence and patterns of anxiety disorders in Turkish children. The findings highlight the need for increased awareness, early detection, and treatment of anxiety in youth. By better understanding how common these issues are, health professionals and policymakers can work to improve mental health care for children and reduce the long-term impacts of anxiety disorders.