Structure and Determinants of Worrying among Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Worrying among 825 adolescent girls, aged 14-20 years, was assessed in relation to a number of possible determinants: sense of coherence of personal future, life events, trait anxiety, depression, self-esteem, defence styles and age. The 11 original future worries were classified in factor analysis into two domains, environmental and personal. Regression analyses showed that environmental worrying was positively associated with a high coherence of personal future and high neurotic defence style, and negatively with a low level of negative life events. Personal worrying was associated positively with high trait anxiety and high neurotic defence style. Our findings suggest that while girls are highly concerned about environmental issues, they still view their personal future optimistically and consider it manageable. Respondents who were concerned with personal survival and health tended to be more anxious than the rest. The high neurotic defence style seems to be a personality feature associated with heightened worrying in general.