Social and Adaptive Functioning Deficits in Children with Anxiety Disorders: The Buffering Effects of Effortful Control

Introduction Although effortful control —the ability to restrain impulsive reactions in favor of more adaptive responses—has been identified as a protective factor for childhood anxiety, the protective effects of effortful control in terms of anxious children’s social/adaptive functioning remains unexplored. The present study examined the moderating role of effortful control in the association between anxiety symptom severity and social/adaptive functioning in a sample of clinically anxious youth. Method One hundred and five clinically anxious youth ( M = 10.07 years, SD = 1.22; 57% female; 61% ethnic minority) and their clinically anxious mothers ( M = 39.35 years, SD = 7.05) completed questionnaires assessing effortful control, anxiety symptoms, and social/adaptive functioning as part of a baseline assessment. Results Greater effortful control was statistically significantly associated with better individual social/adaptive functioning scores and lower anxiety scores. Moderation analyses revealed that greater anxiety symptom severity was associated with poorer peer relationships among youth with lower (vs. higher) effortful control. Discussion Greater effortful control was associated with better social/adaptive functioning and lower anxiety among anxious youth. The negative effects of anxiety on the peer relationships of clinically anxious youth were also buffered by better effortful control. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.