Childhood adversity and anxiety disorders

More than individually contributing to the development of anxiety disorders, this study concluded that different forms of childhood adversity had independent and additive contributions to the risk of developing anxiety later in life.¹ An interesting question that remains to be answered is what factors mediate between this childhood adversity and the outcome of an anxiety disorder: do elements such as social support, and life satisfaction help to ameliorate the risk created by childhood adversity?¹ More research is needed to better understand this.¹

Reference:

1. Lian J, Kiely KM, Callaghan BL, Anstey KJ. Childhood adversity is associated with anxiety and depression in older adults: a cumulative risk and latent class analysis. J Affect Disord 2024; 354: 181–190.