Anxiety and stuttering: filling the research gaps in early adolescence
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder with early childhood onset, characterized by involuntary disruptions in the forward flow of speech as syllable repetitions, prolongations and blocking of sounds (Bloodstein & Ratner, 2008) and maladaptive emotional and behavioral reactions (Iverach, 2014). Stuttering during adulthood is associated with increased risk of anxiety disorders, especially social anxiety disorder (Craig & Tran (2014). The main purpose of this current study was to investigate if the presence of a chronic disorder such as stuttering is associated with an increased risk for development of psychopathological symptoms during the early adolescence. The study examines the relationship between anxiety and stuttering within the framework of the multidimensional interaction model of anxiety and stuttering, in which the behavioral, emotional, cognitive factors, although in a variable way, are all involved in the genesis and maintenance of these two phenomena, therefore, they deserve to be studied in order to design more effective integrated and multidisciplinary treatments. Specifically, we examined whether there is a differential effect of stuttering on anxiety levels and psychopathological symptoms. Furthermore, we examined which potential risk and protective factors may be able to moderate the link between stuttering and anxiety on youths’ socio-emotional functioning. Participants were pre-adolescents who stutter (11–14 years), and matched non-stuttering control pre-adolescents for gender, age and socioeconomic status. Linear regression models and correlation analysis were used to investigate the relationship between stuttering and anxiety, and to evaluate the overall impact of protective and risk psychological factors on this relationship. This study includes a multidimensional approach to the relationship between stuttering and anxiety also through a comprehensive assessment from multiple informants. In this regard, correlation analysis were computed between preadolescents and parents report to investigate possible differences across stuttering e control group.
Author: Giulia Natarelli
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3102635288