Personality traits as predictors of anxiety in preschool aged children
- WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Sabrina Faith Gretkierewicz (Creator)
- Institution
- Western Carolina University (WCU )
- Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
- Advisor
- Cathy Grist
Abstract: Research has increasingly been conducted involving personality in preschool aged populations.With regard to psychopathology, anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent within thispopulation. Previous research has examined the relationship between personality and anxiety butnot within preschool populations. Moreover, personality factors and anxiety are expressed andassessed differently in preschool populations compared to adults or even older children. To ourknowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between personality factors andanxiety in preschoolers. Within the present study, preschool teachers completed the M5-PS-35,The Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 (CBCL), and the Preschool Anxiety Scale Revised(PASR; adapted teacher form) on each of the preschool aged participants. Results showed thatpersonality traits were significantly correlated with anxiety in preschoolers. Specifically, thepersonality trait neuroticism was positively correlated with overall increased anxiety inpreschoolers using both measures of anxiety. Additionally, both extraversion and openness toexperience were significantly negatively correlated with anxiety using both measures of anxiety.Next, CBCL Anxiety Problems scale and the PASR (adapted teacher form) total anxiety scorewere positively correlated. Lastly, the predictors extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness,neuroticism, openness to experience, and total anxiety using the PASR (adapted teacher form)accounted for significant variability in each of the Syndrome Scales examined. Also, results suggested that the five factors are predictors of anxiety, using both measures of anxiety. Overall,these findings suggest that the personality factors are predictors of anxiety, as well as predictorsof other social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties in preschool aged children.
Personality traits as predictors of anxiety in preschool aged children
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Created on 3/1/2016
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2016
- Keywords
- Anxiety, Children, Extraversion, Neuroticism, Personality, Preschool
- Subjects
- Preschool children -- Psychology
- Anxiety in children
- Preschool children -- Mental health