The comorbid relationship of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents

grantor: University of TorontoThe relationship of anxiety and depression was investigated in a sample of nonreferred East-European children aged 11 to 16. Using self-report data, confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to determine if a Three Factor (Tripartite) Model of anxiety and depression provided a better fit to the data than a One or Two Factor Model. Age and gender differences in anxious and depressive symptomology were also examined, along with evidence that anxiety predates depression. Results indicated that the One and Two Factor Models provided a better fit to the data than the Three Factor Model. Few age differences in anxious and depressive symptoms were found, although there was a significant age by gender interaction, with more older females reporting higher levels of depression than males. There was no evidence to support the hypothesized temporal relationship between anxiety and depression. Contrary to expectations, a significant age difference between anxious and depressed children was not found. In addition, significant differences in the anxiety and depression scores of both groups of children were reported. The implications of these findings, as well as the limitations of the study and the directions for future work in the area are discussed.Ph.D