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Locus of control, perceived parenting style, and symptoms of anxiety and depression in children with Tourette’s syndrome

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Abstract

Aim

This study explored the contribution of two psychosocial factors, locus of control (LOC) and perceived parenting style, to symptoms of internalizing disorders in children with Tourette syndrome (TS). This contribution was further evaluated in relation to TS severity.

Methods

Sixty-five children (53 boys, 12 girls) ages 9.0–16.9 years, of normal intelligence, completed questionnaires evaluating their depression and anxiety symptoms, LOC, and maternal parenting style. Their mothers rated TS severity, determined by tic severity, symptoms of attention-deficit hypreactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS).

Results

Higher rates of symptoms of anxiety and depression were associated with a more external LOC and a more rejecting and controlling parenting style. Additionally, depression correlated significantly with tic severity, ADHD and OCS, whereas anxiety correlated only with ADHD symptoms and OCS, but not with tics. Regression analyses showed that LOC, OCS and ADHD symptoms each significantly contributed to predicting anxiety level, whereas LOC and ADHD symptoms significantly contributed to predicting depression symptoms.

Conclusions

Rates of symptoms of anxiety and depression in children with TS are markedly influenced by psychosocial factors, extending beyond the influence of ADHD and OCD, both common comorbid disorders in TS. An internal LOC, which is associated with an accepting and autonomy-granting parenting style, appears to be a protective factor against anxiety and depression.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Cory Shulman for her helpful remarks and Dee B. Ankonina for her assistance in preparing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel

    Esther Cohen Ph.D

  2. Child and Adolescent Clinic, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Michal Sade M.A

  3. Department of Child Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Fortu Benarroch M.D

  4. The Neuropediatric Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Yehuda Pollak Ph.D & Varda Gross-Tsur M.D

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  1. Esther Cohen Ph.D
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  2. Michal Sade M.A
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  3. Fortu Benarroch M.D
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  4. Yehuda Pollak Ph.D
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  5. Varda Gross-Tsur M.D
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Correspondence to Esther Cohen Ph.D.

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Cohen, E., Sade, M., Benarroch, F. et al. Locus of control, perceived parenting style, and symptoms of anxiety and depression in children with Tourette’s syndrome. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 17, 299–305 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0671-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0671-7

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