Childhood emotional abuse, cruel physical punishment, and anxiety among adolescent primary care patients

Although prior research has examined the consequences of childhood maltreatment, little research has focused specifically on the associations of childhood emotional abuse and cruel physical punishment with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder during adolescence. This study was conducted to investigate these associations. Childhood emotional abuse, cruel physical punishment, and anxiety disorder symptoms were assessed in a multisite sample of 194 adolescent primary care patients. Results indicated that both childhood emotional abuse and cruel physical punishment were significantly correlated with elevated levels of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder symptoms. Findings were consistent with the hypothesis that childhood emotional abuse and cruel physical punishment may be correlated with elevated risk for adolescent anxiety symptoms. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.