Causes of Anxiety in Adults and Children: A Psychological Perspective

1 Causes of Anxiety in Adults and Children: A Psychological Perspective Statement of the problem Anxiety is a significant health issue affecting both children and adults. Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that 25% of children aged between 13 and 18 years have an anxiety disorder, which increases their vulnerability to depression and other mental issues if appropriate interventions are not provided (Mental health surveillance among children...," 2023). The Anxiety and Depression Association of America ( ADAA) reveals that anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the country, affecting an estimated 7.1% of the adult population ("Facts & statistics," n.d.). Similar statistics are reflected globally by the World Health Organization (WHO), which reports that an estimated 4% of the global adult population lives with anxiety disorder. This corresponds to 301 million adults, making anxiety disorder one of the most prevalent mental disorders in the twenty-first century ("Facts & statistics," n.d.). Anxiety disorder is also associated with a high prevalence of other mental issues, including stress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, in the long term if appropriate interventions are not embraced on time. Understanding the causes of anxiety is, therefore, imperative to lay the basis for proper interventions and mitigate the risk of advancing to other mental health issues.

Evidence: Theoretical perspectives Cognitive Perspective The cognitive theoretical perspective posits that individuals with anxiety disorders tend to have distorted thinking patterns, such as overgeneralization, pessimism, and selective attention to negative information. For example, a person with an anxiety disorder is likely to worry about being judged by others, tend to be self-judgmental, develop low self-esteem issues, and exhibit avoidance behaviors (Bertelse et al., 2023). The cognitive perspective of understanding anxiety is backed by Beck’s mental model of anxiety, which emphasizes the

2 contribution of the thought process to anxiety. According to the model, people who have negative self-thoughts and pessimism are more likely to suffer from mood disorders and, consequently, anxiety disorders (Riskind & Calvete, 2023). The cognitive perspective of explaining anxiety also emphasizes the implications of environmental influences in causing anxiety. According to this perspective, people in poor neighborhoods and around people suffering from anxiety disorder are more likely to exhibit the condition due to the negative socialization processes.

Biological perspectives The biological perspective looks at the causes of anxiety in children and adults from a genetic perspective. Accordingly, factors that contribute to anxiety include neurotransmitter imbalances, genetic brain predisposition, and brain structure(Mitrea et al., 2022). This is backed by validation of the research hypothesis that people with a history of anxiety disorders are more likely to experience the condition when other factors are held constant (Acaster et al., 2023). The biological perspective of anxiety is also validated by the fact that people suffering from brain injury and imbalances in neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin are more likely to experience anxiety when other factors are held constant.

Influence of Contexts and Assumptions.

From a psychological perspective, anxiety is likely to be viewed through the lens of environmental influences, maladaptive behaviors, and cognitive distortions. As a result, psychologists are likely to employ an interplay of preventive and curative interventions for anxiety disorders. A preferred intervention from this perspective is cognitive behavioral therapy, which posits that human behavior is configured in the mind (Stokes, 2023).

According to the cognitive-behavioral perspective, treating maladaptive human behaviors ought to start with configuring the mind processes to eliminate the maladaptive thought patterns and cognitive distortions. Cognitive behavioral therapy would also be used to help

3 individuals suffering from anxiety disorders identify and challenge irrational beliefs and purposeful work on reducing symptoms of anxiety.

Psychologists are also likely to use positive reinforcement of behaviors to treat anxiety. In these cases, people with anxiety disorder will be encouraged to practice therapeutical behaviors such as mindful meditation regularly. Different studies confirm the relevance of mindful meditation in avoiding destruction, focusing the mind toward optimism, and developing an atmosphere of gratitude, culminating in low vulnerability to anxiety (Stokes, 2023). Hence, people who engage in mindful meditation are less likely to suffer from the disorder. Psychologists would encourage mindful meditation by rewarding the consistency of the practice to encourage its repeat and mastery. This is rooted in the psychological theory that positively reinforced behavior is nurtured and likely to be repeated.

In contrast, behavior subjected to negative reinforcement tends to be discouraged and eventually dropped over time.

From a biological perspective, psychologists would perceive anxiety as a result of genetic predisposition and imbalance of neurochemicals. This would trigger interventions such as the use of medications to curb the anxieties and the likely depressive thoughts.

Medicines that are likely to be used when anxiety is viewed from a biological perspective include serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs) to help regulate the neurotransmitter levels, citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine ( Prozac), a dn paroxetine ( Paxil).

Student Position.

The cognitive perspective makes more sense in explaining the causes of anxiety in children and adults. The cognitive perspective integrates the psychological mechanisms that underlie the development of anxiety. It recognizes that anxiety is not solely a result of biological factors but is significantly influenced by thought patterns, cognitive distortions, and the way individuals perceive and interpret their experiences. The perspective also

4 acknowledges that anxiety often arises from irrational beliefs and negative thought patterns, which biological explanations do not fully encompass. The cognitive perspective also accounts for the substantial individual differences in how people experience and cope with anxiety. It acknowledges that not all individuals with a genetic predisposition or neurochemical imbalances will develop anxiety disorders, but it highlights the role of personal experiences, cognitive styles, thinking processes, personality differences, and coping strategies in shaping anxiety interventions. The cognitive perspective also provides a more comprehensive approach to reading and avoiding anxieties by using psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and positive reinforcement of desired behaviors such as positive self-talk and mindful meditation.

Whereas the biological perspective may also help understand the causes of the disorder due to the imbalance of chemicals in the brain and the need to use medications to correct the imbalance, it fails to count for other underlying factors such as environmental influences, socialization factors, and personality differences that may lead to the disorder.

Hence, the cognitive perspective is a holistic approach to understanding the causal factors for anxiety.

Ethical Considerations Addressing the ethical issues associated with anxiety in children and adults requires integrations of empathy, fairness, responsibility, authority, and upholding human rights and respect for human dignity. For example, psychologists have the ethical obligation to consider other people's suffering and establish and implement individualized approaches to treating individual patients. This is in addition to the ethical responsibility of advocating for the rights of patients living with anxiety disorder, including access to equitable and quality mental health services and products. Of more importance is upholding the ethical principles of beneficence and maleficence that require psychologists to act in the best interest of the

5 patients and to cause no harm whatsoever (Khanahmadi, 2020). This is in addition to allowing patients living with anxiety disorder autonomy to choose their preferred interventions, from either biological or cognitive perspective, so long as they have the competence to make ethical and legally enforceable choices.

Conclusion.

Anxiety in adults and children is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. While both cognitive and biological perspectives provide valuable insights, the cognitive perspective offers a more comprehensive explanation, emphasizing the role of thought processes in the development and maintenance of anxiety. Addressing anxiety ethically involves ensuring equitable access to treatment, respecting autonomy, and promoting empathy and support for those affected by mental health issues. Whereas the biological perspective certainly plays a role in understanding anxiety, the cognitive perspective offers a more comprehensive explanation for the causes of anxiety in both children and adults. It accounts for the interplay of psychological, mental, and environmental factors, provides effective therapeutic interventions, and recognizes the importance of individual differences in anxiety causes, experiences, and interventions.

6 References Acaster, S., Lo, S. H., & Nestler-Parr, S. (2023). A survey exploring caregiver burden and health-related quality of life in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 18(1), 1–11.

Bertelsen, T. B., Himle, J. A., & Håland, Å. T. (2023). Bidirectional Relationship Between Family Accommodation and Youth Anxiety During Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 54(3), 905-912.

Facts & statistics. (n.d.). Anxiety Disorders and Depression Research & Treatment | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. https://adaa.org/understandinganxiety/facts-statistics Facts & statistics. (n.d.). Anxiety Disorders and Depression Research & Treatment | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. https://adaa.org/understandinganxiety/facts-statistics Khanahmadi, M. (2020). Ethical Codes and Psychotherapy. International Journal of Ethics and Society, 1(4), 6-1.

Mental health surveillance among children ... (2023, March 7). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/su/su7102a1.htm Mitrea, L., Nemeş, S. A., Szabo, K., Teleky, B. E., & Vodnar, D. C. (2022). Guts imbalance imbalances the brain: A review of gut microbiota association with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Frontiers in Medicine, 9, 706.

Riskind, J. H., & Calvete, E. (2023). Beyond Logical Errors: Preliminary Evidence for the “Looming Vulnerability Distortions Questionnaire” of Cognitive-Perceptual Distortions in Anxiety. Cognitive Therapy and Research, pp. 1–21.

Stokes, A. L. (2023). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Addiction Disorders: A Study of Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions.

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