In the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, selective mutism is classified as an anxiety disorder. Literature has shown that there is a strong overlap...Show moreIn the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, selective mutism is classified as an anxiety disorder. Literature has shown that there is a strong overlap between social anxiety and selective mutism. Social anxiety is known to be related to a lower quality of life. A lower quality of life is associated with stress and depression and an increased risk of medical problems. This study aims to gain a clearer picture of what is more important in an adolescent's quality of life: selective mutism, social anxiety, or low speech behaviour. 79 adolescents aged from 10 to 18 and one of their parents completed various questionnaires. Adolescents completed subscale C of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) and the domain psychological well-being of the Kidscreen-52. Parents completed the Selective Mutism Questionnaire (SMQ) and a short questionnaire that showed whether or not an adolescent has selective mutism. Significantly less speaking behavior has been reported in adolescents with selective mutism than without selective mutism (t(78) = -12.28, p<.001). In addition, significantly more social anxiety was found in adolescents with selective mutism than in adolescents without (t(78) = 9.19, p < .001). A significantly lower quality of life was found in adolescents with selective mutism than in adolescents without selective mutism (t(78) = -2.71, p = .010). The association between speaking behavior and social anxiety turned out to be significant (r = -.77, p<.001), the association between social anxiety and quality of life aswell (r = -.33, p<.001) and the association between speaking behavior and quality of life was also significant (r = .30, p = .01). The variables have been shown to be related to each other but not to have a significantly unique contribution to the quality of life of adolescents. Selective mutism as well as social anxiety and a low level of speaking behavior lead to a lower quality of life. More research is needed to further expand the picture of selective mutism and quality of life.Show less
Research shows that maladaptive coping is an important factor in the development of psychopathology. Selective mutism has recently been classified as an anxiety disorder in the DSM-V. From this...Show moreResearch shows that maladaptive coping is an important factor in the development of psychopathology. Selective mutism has recently been classified as an anxiety disorder in the DSM-V. From this perspective, it is relevant to explore coping in adolescents because little is known about the use of coping strategies of adolescents with SM when they are anxious. Insight in coping will also provide information on the non-speaking behavior of this group. Research on this subject is scarce. In total 79 adolescents from the Netherlands and Belgium participated in this explorative research study. The sample consisted of 34 adolescents with SM and 45 adolescents without psychopathology, in the age 9 to 18. The aim of the present study is to examine which coping strategies are used by adolescents with SM when anxious, and how this differs from adolescents without psychopathology. The Feel-KJ, a self-report questionnaire, was used to research this question. The effect of age was included as a covariate. The results show that adolescents with SM use less adaptive coping strategies and more maladaptive coping strategies, with the exception of aggression, compared to their peers without psychopathology. Age also has an effect on the use of maladaptive coping strategies, but this effect is small. This knowledge contributes to the existing research in which evidence has been found for a link between the use of maladaptive coping strategies and psychopathology. It is important to conduct further (experimental) research to confirm these findings and to examine a possible causal relationship. The present study gives insight in how adolescents with SM cope with fear in comparison to adolescents without psychopathology. Information about adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies can be implemented in interventions and treatments so that adolescents with SM can learn to adaptively cope with fear.Show less
