Behavioral Inhibition in Childhood as A Risk Factor for Development of Social Anxiety Disorder: A Longitudinal Study

Garcia-Lopez Luis-Joaquin, Espinosa-Fernández Lourdes and Muela-Martínez José A
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Garcia-Lopez Luis-Joaquin: Department of Psychology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Espinosa-Fernández Lourdes: Department of Psychology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Muela-Martínez José A: Department of Psychology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaén, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-7

Abstract: Previous research has suggested the association between behavioral inhibition (BI) and the development of social anxiety disorder in childhood. However, there is scarce research using longitudinal methodology in Spanish-speaking populations. To cover this gap, the sample comprised 73 children ranging from six to eight years who had been examined for BI two years earlier in home and school settings. Children and their parents were administered the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-5-Child and Parent Versions to assess the presence of possible anxiety disorders. The results revealed the stability of BI symptomatology over time. Data also showed that BI children were almost ten times more likely to develop social anxiety disorder two years later, compared to no-BI children. As a result, findings suggest behavioral inhibition strongly predicts social anxiety disorder, making BI a logical focus for selective preventive interventions. Therefore, screening for behavioral inhibition holds promise for primary prevention.

Keywords: behavioral inhibition; childhood; longitudinal; primary prevention; social anxiety disorder (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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