Anxiety and depression: The moderating roles of self-perception and race

It has been shown that children with elevated anxiety levels are at a higher risk for developing depressive symptoms (e.g., Seligman & Ollendick, 1998). Furthermore, it has been shown that high self-worth may serve as a protective factor against developing both anxiety and depressive symptoms (e.g. Costello et al., 2008). The primary focus of the current research was to evaluate the moderating role that self-worth played in the predictive relationship between anxiety and depression. A second avenue of interest for the current research was the exploration of the role that race played in these predictive relationships between anxiety, depression, and self-worth. Using an ethnically diverse sample of 726 middle school children regression analyses were run to examine the predictive relationship between anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms, as well as the potential moderating role of self-worth. Additionally, a three way interaction was examined between gender, racial group, and anxiety in the prediction of depressive symptoms. Analyses showed that both self-worth and anxiety symptoms were significantly related to depressive symptoms. However, self-worth and race were not moderating variables in the relationship between anxiety and depression. Furthermore, there was not a significant three way interaction between gender, racial group, and anxiety in the prediction of depression. The discussion includes an examination of the limitations as well as possible future directions for research.