Anxiety profiles and protective factors: A latent profile analysis in children

TL;DR

This study identified distinct anxiety profiles in schoolchildren and examined how protective factors like self-concept and resilience relate to these profiles, informing targeted interventions.

Contribution

It is the first to use latent profile analysis to categorize anxiety types in children and explore protective factors' roles in these profiles.

Findings

Three anxiety profiles identified based on general, test, and math anxiety.

Self-concept was lower in higher risk anxiety profiles.

Resilience remained relatively stable across different anxiety levels.

Abstract

The current study investigated the presence of different anxiety profiles in schoolchildren in order to understand whether Mathematics and Test Anxiety are a manifestation of a general form of anxiety, or the expression of specific forms of anxiety. Moreover, we also examined the influence of personal protective factors. The results of a latent profile analysis, conducted on 664 children attending grades 3 to 6, clearly identified three different profiles distinguished on the basis of the level of general, test and mathematics anxiety. Protective factors, such as self concept and resilience, were differently related to anxiety: The former was clearly lower when the risk profile was higher, whereas students were able to maintain a certain level of resilience up to an average risk of developing forms of anxiety. The implications of these findings may lead to the development of specific intervention programs aimed at reducing students' anxiety and fostering self concept and resilience.