Longitudinal Association Between Parental-to-child-maltreatment and Self-reported Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symtoms in Pakistani Adolescents

Abstract

\n Background: Parent-to-child maltreatment is considered to be one of the risk factors for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) symtoms but this hypothesis has not been adequately tested in Pakistani settings. Aim: This study aimed to examine the association between parent-to-child maltreatment and the risk of developing GAD symptoms among adolescents.Methods: The association of none to rare, occasionally and frequently parent-to-child maltreatment with the incidence of GAD symptoms was investigated in a sample of 800 adolescents aged 11-17 years who were followed for a period of 2 years. Parent-to-child maltreatment was assessed using ICAST-C (International child abuse screening tool) whereas GAD Symptoms was determined by SCARED (Screen for children anxiety related disorders). Cox Proportional Algorithm was used to estimate risk ratios.Results: Forty-two percent of frequently maltreated children developed GAD symptoms compared to nine percent of none to rare maltreated children. Among children with both uneducated parents, frequently maltreatment was associated with 7.31 (2.20-24.04) times the risk of GAD symptoms as compared to none to rare maltreatment. Conclusion: The frequency of parent-to-child maltreatment is significantly associated with an increased risk of development of GAD symptoms in which parental education plays a crucial role, hence evaluation for the GAD symptoms should be a priority for adolescents with history of occasionally to frequently parent-to-child maltreatment. Parents should be imparted awaress about the ultimate consequences of child maltreatement.