Barriers to Referral of Anxious Youth in Pediatric Care: An Examination of the Latent Structure

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent form of psychopathology affecting youth, causing significant distress and impairment (Ginsburg et al. 2004). Youth with anxiety disorders often present to a family physician or pediatrician, not to a mental health specialist (Katoka, 2006). Currently over 25 empirically supported treatments for youth with anxiety disorders have been identified which offer hope for youth with anxiety disorders ranging from specific phobias (Davis, Ollendick & Ost, 2009) to generalized anxiety disorder (Kendall, 1994). However, many children and adolescents will not receive these treatments if the child’s physician fails to provide a referral. Thus the aim of the current study was to examine barriers to physician referral of youth with anxiety disorders. Based on past research and theory, the current study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate a three-factor model of the perceived barriers that physicians face when referring youth with anxiety disorders. Participants were 211 pediatric providers who completed the Barriers to Referral of Youth with Anxiety Disorders in Pediatrics Survey (BRYAS) a 17- item survey assessing barriers to referral. This study represents the first attempt to systematically evaluate barriers to physician referral of anxious youth in pediatric settings. Consistent with the hypothesis, the present findings provide evidence for three meaningful factors (i.e., physician, parent, and organizational barriers). Importantly, the identification of potential barriers may provide insight for improving strategies to increase referral of youth with anxiety disorders in primary care facilities, thus, facilitating the referral process.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Toledo

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Swedish, Erin Fletcher

Contributors dc:contributor

• Seligman, Laura

• Psychology

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1365073577

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:toledo1365073577