Assessing a relation between anxiety at school and morbidity among middle and high school children

Introduction. International research works have revealed that Russian children and teenagers tend to have one of the highest anxiety levels in the world. Anxiety at school can be a risk factor causing certain diseases. Purpose. To assess the relation between anxiety at school and morbidity among boys attending 5-11 grades at secondary schools in the Perm region. Material and methods. We conducted our research in spring 2019 in two secondary schools in the Perm region (in Perm and Kungur). Anxiety at school was estimated with F. Taylor questionnaire modified by N.M. Peisakhov (there were 30 statements in it that characterized various anxiety parameters; children filled it themselves). Morbidity was assessed by analyzing children’s medical profiles kept at schools (0.26/u-2000 form) and clinical examinations performed by medical experts. To establish a relation between certain anxiety parameters and morbidity, we applied non-parametric Spearman’s correlation test. To assess the risks of diseases for children with different anxiety levels, we applied the odds ratio (OR). Results and discussion. We revealed the greatest number of relations between anxiety and endocrine diseases, nutritional disorders, and metabolic disorders. Children who were anxious about controlling their knowledge were nervous, stress-filled, and had no self-confidence, authentically more frequently suffered from overweight, obesity, and protein-energy deficiency as well. This relation can be mediated with emotion-induced nutrition behavior which is especially typical for teenagers. Children who were anxious about controlling their knowledge and had no self-confidence (assessed as per three parameters) ran higher risks of functional dyspepsia than those who didn’t have anxiety. The same relations were detected regarding disorders in the immune mechanism and nervous system diseases. These relations can be explained by looking into psychosomatic mechanisms of disease occurrence. Established relations between anxiety and diseases of the eyes, respiratory organs, and musculoskeletal system more likely indicate that children and teenagers with somatic pathologies run higher risks of anxiety at school. Conclusion. It is necessary to perform complex activities aimed at reducing anxiety at school among schoolchildren attending secondary schools; their activities should involve the participation of medical experts with a wide range of specialties as well as parents.