Relationships between child- and parent-reported behavioural inhibition and symptoms of anxiety and depression in normal adolescents

In two previous studies Muris, Merckelbach, Wessel, & Van de Ven (1999); Muris, Merckelbach, Schmidt, Gadet, & Bogie (2001), we found self-reported behavioural inhibition to be positively associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. The current investigation further examined the relationship between behavioural inhibition and symptoms of anxiety and depression, not only relying on youthsʹ self-report but also including the parentsʹ point of view. A large group of young adolescents aged 11–15 years and their parents completed a measure of behavioural inhibition and the Revised Childrenʹs Anxiety and Depression Scale, a questionnaire designed to measure symptoms of anxiety disorders and major depression in terms of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Results showed that parent–child agreement for behavioural inhibition and symptoms of anxiety and depression was rather modest. Furthermore, the data indicated that high levels of child- and parent-reported behavioural inhibition were accompanied by high levels of anxiety disorder symptoms and depression.