Citation

Hernandez Rodriguez J, Gregus SJ, Craig JT, Pastrana FA, Cavell TA. Child Psychiatry Hum. Dev. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10578-019-00919-z

PMID

31401756

Abstract

In this study, we examined the degree to which children's level of anxiety sensitivity (AS) was a precursor to both internalizing problems and peer victimization experiences. Participants were 581 fourth-grade children (M age = 9.31; 51.8% girls; 42.3% Hispanic/Latinx) and their teachers. Measures of AS, internalizing problems, and peer victimization were collected across a single academic year (Fall, Spring). Structural equation modeling and logistic regression analyses indicated AS predicted future internalizing symptoms as well as self- and teacher-reports of peer victimization. Also, children with heightened AS were 2.70 times more likely to reach elevated levels of self-rated peer victimization and 11.53 times more likely to have clinically elevated internalizing problems. This is the first study to examine prospectively the link between AS and children's peer victimization experiences. We discuss implications of the findings for developing preventative interventions for children at risk for peer victimization and internalizing difficulties.

Language: en

Keywords

Anxiety sensitivity; Children; Internalizing problems; Peer victimization