Anxiety in adolescents arises even before birth

Environmental and caregiving conditions during the early stages of life, even before birth, shape the development of executive functions and emotional regulation in children, factors that may contribute to the development of anxiety disorders in adolescence.

An article published in the journal Science suggests that maternal stress, quality of care, and environmental conditions in the early years, along with current social and technological changes, could contribute to explaining this trend, given the increase in the number of adolescents with anxiety disorders, especially in developed countries.

The authors, Mark Hanson of the University of Southampton and Peter Gluckman of the S-TAR Human Development Institute , point out that the rise in anxiety problems in 12- to 19-year-olds , particularly in developed countries, cannot be explained solely by recent factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thus, they propose that early exposure to adverse environments, such as maternal stress or poor care, could prepare the infant brain to respond to threats that, if not materialized later, lead to an exaggerated and anxious emotional response.

This, according to Hanson and Gluckman, is exacerbated by the rapid social and technological changes that young people are subjected to today.

This week, The Lancet magazine warned that more than 1 billion adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 24 will be living in countries with preventable and treatable health problems, including depression and anxiety, by 2030.

This document noted that although the digital transition offers adolescents new opportunities for social interaction, education, employment, and health promotion, many key social and emotional experiences now occur online, raising concerns about potential harm to their development and well-being.

Alberto Ortiz Lobo, a psychiatrist at La Paz University Hospital in Madrid , says that the first years of life are known to be crucial for people's emotional development, and that when secure attachment bonds cannot be established and there are failures in childcare, "difficulties in relationships and psychological suffering are more likely to appear in later years."

Although the hypothesis of the study in 'Science' is interesting, Luis Valero Aguayo , professor of Psychology at the University of Malaga, cautions that no direct empirical data is presented. "Current adolescent anxiety is more likely explained by current social and cultural pressures, such as excessive screen use, constant online comparisons, and overprotection," explains SMC Valero.

In this regard, Maite Garaigordobil , professor emeritus at the University of the Basque Country , considers the article to be "a valuable contribution" in highlighting the concept of "adaptive maladjustment": the idea that adaptive responses generated at very early stages can become maladaptive if they do not correspond to the future environment. Furthermore, she underscores the need for public policies that guarantee safe and emotionally enriching prenatal and postnatal environments.

In any case, Ortiz Lobo tells SMC, "the best way to prevent mental health problems is to establish social policies that guarantee child well-being, protecting them from situations of violence, abuse, and neglect."