Association between Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Adolescents with a History of Abuse or Neglect.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the association between symptoms of anxiety disorder, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among adolescents who had experienced abuse or neglect and resident in a charitable children’s institution (CCI). This study was conducted in three CCI’s in Nairobi County, Kenya. The inclusion criteria was be aged between 13-18 years, have mild or moderate symptoms of anxiety disorder and be resident in a CCI. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were 115 adolescents. Participants were administered the Socio-Demographic Questionaire (SDQ), Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Becks Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Harvard Trauma Questionaire (HTQ). Results showed that participants who had symptoms of anxiety disorder only were (50.4%), those with symptoms of anxiety and depression were 37.4%, those with symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD were 9 (7.8%) while those with a comorbidity of symptoms of anxiety and PTSD were 4.3%. Symptoms of PTSD were correlated with symptoms of depression at p <.001. Symptoms of PTSD were also correlated with symptoms and anxiety at p =.005 while symptoms of depression were correlated with symptoms of anxiety at p=.007. Further, age was associated with symptoms of PTSD and depression and not with symptoms of anxiety disorder while gender was not associated with symptoms of PTSD, depression or anxiety disorder. In conclusion, among adolescents who had experienced abuse or neglect, symptoms of PTSD were correlated with symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders while symptoms of depression were correlated with symptoms of anxiety disorders.

Description

Journal Article

Keywords

Adolescents, Anxiety, Association, Depression, Kenya, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Citation

Nyagwencha, S. K., Naomi, J., & Munene, A. (2018). Association between Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Adolescents with a History of Abuse or Neglect. International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research.

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