Anxiety related disorders in adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: a population based cross-sectional study

Anxiety is a normal human emotion characterized by various responses (e.g., behavioral, affective, and cognitive) to perceived threat [1]. However, anxiety can be considered excessive or pathological when such responses cause significant distress or are out of proportion to the perceived source of stress [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the number of people with anxiety or depression increased by almost 50% between 1990 and 2013 [2], with around 10% of the world’s population affected by these disorders.

Anxiety disorders are common among children and adolescents [1, 3, 4]. Reported rates of anxiety among children and adolescents were 31.9% in the United States (age: 13–18 years) [5], 26.41% in Spain (age: 8–17 years) [6], 22.5% in Chile (age: 4–18 years) [7], 21.9% in Iran [4], and 36.7% in India (secondary school children) [8]. Anxiety disorders that remain undetected and untreated in childhood and adolescence may affect well-being in adulthood, which challenges earlier views that high levels of anxiety are developmentally normal [9, 10].

Current diagnostic frameworks identify several anxiety disorders that commonly occur during childhood and adolescence, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and significant school refusal/avoidance disorder [11‐13]. Although there are differing perspectives on the etiology of anxiety in childhood, multiple factors (e.g., the child’s temperament and characteristics, genetic factors, environmental factors) are thought to contribute to the development of anxiety disorders among children and adolescents [14]. Specific risk factors include adverse family experiences (e.g., marital conflict, death of a parent), school stressors (e.g., bullying), abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual), maternal substance abuse, and parental mental health [15, 16]. Parental characteristics (e.g., education level, unemployment) or living without parents may also contribute to the risk for anxiety disorders among young people [17]. Anxiety disorders are also reported to be more prevalent in girls and among children with comorbidities or chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes) [14, 18‐20]. Although there is some evidence that heritability (i.e., anxiety runs in families) may have a role in anxiety, there is debate as to whether this can be explained by modeling of anxious behaviors within a family [1, 21, 22]. However, anxiety disorders may involve complex interactions between a child’s unique characteristics and their environment [23].

Although anxiety disorders among children and adolescents are common, they remain distressing and impairing for the child/adolescent and the family. In particular, school and social functioning is lower in children with anxiety disorders compared with children without such disorders [24]. Anxiety disorders may also interfere with a young person’s social communication, peer relationships, schooling, and family life [19, 25]. Despite anxiety being common and debilitating in children and adolescents, it frequently remains unidentified and untreated [24]. For example, a previous study found teachers had limited sensitivity to variations in students’ levels of anxiety symptoms, and often struggled to identify students that required targeted interventions or additional classroom support [26]. Research conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported that correct identification of mental health problems and accurate identification of appropriate evidence-based interventions for affected children was limited among healthcare professionals [27, 28]. This was attributed to low levels of mental health literacy among respondents, combined with religious and cultural factors that potentially affected their interventions.

The UAE is a progressive, highly developed, and stable country, but is surrounded by countries experiencing political and economic instability. Approximately 80–90% of the UAE population is expatriates and immigrants [29]. Challenges for these people include separation from their families and loved ones, financial hardships, and potentially having witnessed violence or atrocities back home. In addition, the UAE has a large percentage of young people with developmental needs that may predispose them to anxiety in adulthood, especially those with chronic conditions [27]. The UAE also has specific environmental and cultural risk factors that contribute to mental health problems, particularly among young people [28, 30]. These risk factors include large family units and consanguineous marriages, which are common in the UAE and the wider Arab world [31].

Much of the epidemiological research on anxiety disorders in children and adolescents has been conducted in Western settings [32]. Data on the prevalence, comorbidity, and predictors of anxiety disorders among children and adolescents are scarce in the Middle East, including in the UAE. Previous UAE-based studies in this area date back to 1998 [33] and 2004 [34], and more up-to-date data are required. It is of particular concern that many social, emotional and behavioral problems among young children are not identified during pediatric healthcare contacts [35], which suggests a preventive approach is necessary. An initial national epidemiological study is needed to clarify the extent of the problem in the UAE, increase awareness of this issue, and inform further interventional studies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of specific anxiety-related disorders (i.e., GAD, panic disorder, separation anxiety, social anxiety, and significant school avoidance), and identify correlations between these disorders and adolescents’ demographic variables.

In total, 968 questionnaires were completed. Participants’ mean age was 16 years (SD 1.8 years), and almost two-thirds were female (65.8%). The majority of participants were local Emiratis (61.8%). Approximately 80% of participants were from three Emirates: Sharjah (40%), Dubai (20%), and Ajman (19.8%). Table 1 presents participants’ demographic characteristics.

Evaluation of total anxiety disorder scores showed the mean score was 25.3 ± 14.3 for girls and 18.9 ± 12 for boys (p < 0.0001). Girls had higher mean scores for all types of anxiety disorders (Table 2). Participants aged < 16 years had higher anxiety, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and social anxiety scores compared with those aged ≥16 years (p ≤ 0.05). Participants from households with a maid had showed significantly higher scores for anxiety, panic disorder, separation disorder, and significant school avoidance than those without a maid (p ≤ 0.05). Participants whose main caregiver was someone other than their mother/father showed significantly higher scores for anxiety (30.2 ± 17.1), panic disorder (9.0 ± 6.3), social anxiety (6.03 ± 4.4), generalized anxiety (6.6 ± 4.6), and school avoidance (3.5 ± 2.8) compared with those cared for by their mother only, father only, and both mother and father (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in anxiety scores by mother’s employment status and economic status (p > 0.05). However, participants from low and middle economic backgrounds showed higher scores for separation anxiety compared with those from high economic backgrounds (p ≤ 0.05). Table 2 presents analysis of factors affecting anxiety disorder scores.

The overall prevalence of anxiety disorders was 28% (Table 3), with the prevalence being significantly higher in girls (33.6%) than in boys (17.2%) (p < 0.0001). The multivariate analysis (Table 4) showed that gender and caregiver were the main associated factors for anxiety. Girls were more likely to develop anxiety symptoms than boys (odds ratio [OR] 2.34, 95% CI: 1.45–3.73). Adolescents who were cared for by both their mother and father were less likely to develop anxiety compared with adolescents who were raised by someone other than their mother and father (OR 0.30, 95% CI: 0.12–0.72).

The UAE is actively developing its healthcare system and other services (e.g., education and tourism) with the aim of being at the forefront of the world in these areas. In the health sector, the UAE Vision 2021 specifies the objective of building and providing world-class healthcare for the population and tourists [41]. The UAE has also identified mental health as among the top five priorities for healthcare services that need to be addressed. The present national epidemiological study was therefore essential to shed light on the prevalence of anxiety disorders among adolescents in the UAE and allow comparisons with regional and international data. This will help to inform policy and service decisions on future interventions, studies, and initiatives.

This study focused on adolescents, as evidence suggests the majority of mental disorders begin before the age of 14 years. Our study population was also aligned with the demographic composition of the UAE population, which is mainly composed of children, adolescents, and young adults. UAE statistics indicate that a significant proportion of this age group suffer from chronic illnesses [42]. This suggests a significant proportion of the population may be vulnerable to mental health disorders [27], and highlights the urgency of raising awareness and knowledge among healthcare providers and developing informed national initiatives.

This study found the overall prevalence of anxiety disorders among school-aged adolescents in the UAE to be 28%, which was higher than rates in other countries. The prevalence of anxiety-related disorders among adolescents in this study was significantly higher than the worldwide-pooled prevalence of 6.5% reported by Polanczyk et al. [3], which drew on data from 27 countries in multiple regions. In addition, although the prevalence of anxiety in our study was lower compared with the United States (31.9%) [5] and similar to Spain (26.41%) [6], it was higher than rates reported in Chile (22.5%) [7] and Iran (21.9%) [4]. An Indian study reported much higher rates, although that study included participants in the late adolescence developmental stage [8].

The gender differences in the prevalence of anxiety in this study were supported by previous literature, which reported a higher incidence of anxiety-related disorders among girls [14, 24, 43, 44]. We also found that the prevalence of anxiety-related disorders in children younger than age 16 years was higher than that among children older than 16 years. This may indicate that while anxiety onset is in early childhood, some children may navigate their way out of anxiety through internal anxiety management resources and appropriate support from their caregivers. An interesting and unique finding from this study was that children who reported a maid as their primary caregiver had significantly higher scores for anxiety, panic disorder, separation disorder, and significant school avoidance disorder compared with those cared for by their mother only, father only, and both mother and father. The lowest levels of anxiety were observed in children who were cared for by both parents. This finding may be of particular importance and relevance to the UAE and neighboring countries, where there is a high reliance on maids and domestic helpers for household duties and child care [45].

Our multiple logistic regression analysis of associated factors with developing anxiety among adolescents in the UAE revealed that the main associated factors with anxiety were gender and caregiver. Girls were more likely to develop anxiety symptoms than boys, and those who were raised with a high contribution from a maid were more likely to have anxiety compared with those raised by both their mother and father. The cultural context of the UAE may explain these two factors, especially the over-reliance on domestic help for raising children [46]. In addition, despite government efforts to support women, there remains strict traditional rules that may place extra pressure on girls and women, and limit their life choices (e.g., study, career, and travel). Such limitations may place females at higher risk for developing anxiety compared with males.

Anxiety disorders have also been associated with headaches, sleep difficulties, stuttering and other speech disorders [47‐49], and interfere with a young person’s social, school, and family life [19, 26]. This means it is important for these disorders to be identified and treated early. The WHO [2] suggests that investing in early treatment for depression and anxiety leads to a fourfold return. A number of effective treatments are available for anxiety disorders, including psychological therapies (especially cognitive behavioral therapy), education for children and their parents, and pharmacological therapy (as needed), with a combined or multi-modal approach often considered most effective [14]. Online or Internet-based psychological therapies [50, 51] may also be effective for adolescents with anxiety disorders.

This study revealed an alarmingly high incidence of anxiety-related disorders among adolescents in the UAE (28%). Immediate local initiatives are needed to address this problem and reduce the high rate of anxiety-related disorders. Initiatives to reduce anxiety in the UAE should consider the two main associated factors identified in this study (being female and non-parental caregivers). Targeted support is also needed for girls to prevent, manage, or reduce anxiety. Strategies may also need to be considered to reduce the reliance on domestic helpers in raising children and provide appropriate support for parents to raise children themselves.