The Mental Wealth Sheet

A Monthly Report Promoting  Emotional Health for All

Anxiety and depression may not only take an emotional toll on children in the short term, but these feelings may have a lasting impact on how children view themselves and the world around them. A new study shows emotional distress may prompt children to underestimate their abilities as well as see their surroundings in a negative light.

Researchers say although much is known about what prompts emotional distress in children, less is known about what happens afterward. But this study shows that childhood emotional traumas not only have a negative effect on children's emotional well-being, but they also may lead to developmental problems.

The study, which appears in the March/April issue of Child Development, followed nearly 1,000 elementary school children over the course of a year to look at the long-term impact of emotional distress.

Researchers measured the children's depression and anxiety levels, their views of themselves and the world around them, and their perception of their competency at three different intervals. They then compared those competence perceptions to a realistic standard -- the students' grades in all school subjects.

The study found that children who suffered from high levels of anxiety and depression were more prone to see themselves and the world in a negative light. Over time, those feelings eventually caused the children to lower their perceptions of their own competency.

Researcher Eva M. Pomerantz, PhD, of the University of Illinois, and colleagues say three specific beliefs associated with emotional distress seemed to have the greatest effect in promoting self-doubt:

* A tendency for the child to blame themselves for failures and attributing successes to external factors. For example, blaming themselves for a failed test because of their stupidity or attributing a good grade to a teacher in a good mood when grading the test.
* Feelings of uncertainty about whether they could meet performance standards set for them
* Low self-esteem, which prompted children to underestimate their abilities in the social realm

The study also showed that girls were more vulnerable to emotional distress than males but they did not underestimate their competence in the social sphere any more than boys. Pomerantz says this may be because girls may get more positive feedback from their friends than boys.

Researchers also found evidence that the children's negative views of themselves and the world may put them at risk for further emotional distress. They say more research is needed to determine exactly how the negative feelings produced by depression and anxiety cause children to question their abilities, as this type of self-doubt could lead to significant developmental problems.

SOURCE: Child Development, March/April 2003