Peer perceptions of children with anxiety disorders: An examination of peer-perceived anxiety and peer liking

摘要

Examined three aspects of childhood anxiety and peer liking: (1) whether or not children can detect anxiety in age mates, (2) the degree to which peer-reported anxiety, self-reported anxiety, and presence of anxiety disorders are associated with peer liking, and (3) whether or not self-reported anxiety and presence of anxiety disorders are associated with peer liking after controlling for peer-reported anxiety. Peer raters (N=20; age 9.5-12.8) watched and rated videotaped speech samples of anxiety disordered (AD; N=62; age 9.5-13.5) and non-anxiety disordered (NAD; N=18; age 9.5-13.5) target children. Peer-rated anxiety was positively correlated with target children's self-reported anxiety and was higher among AD children and among children with social phobia (SP). Peer liking was inversely related to peer-reported anxiety and was lower for target children with SP. Target children with SP were liked less regardless of how anxious peers reported them to be. Peer rater and target child demographics did not moderate the relationship between peer-rated anxiety and peer liking. Theoretical and clinical implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.