What the study found
The study found that functional impairment, meaning reduced ability to carry out important life roles and activities, explained part of the link between internalising symptoms and low wellbeing. This pattern was clearer for generalised anxiety and less consistent for depression, especially persistent depression.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that impairment linked to internalising symptoms is an important research area and therapeutic target. They suggest this is especially relevant for understanding how anxiety relates to reduced wellbeing.
What the researchers tested
The researchers studied a community sample of 408 people using semi-structured clinical interviews and self-report measures. They examined major depression, persistent depression, and generalised anxiety, along with impairment and wellbeing, using structural equation models; they also looked at whether impairment linked individual symptoms to wellbeing.
What worked and what didn't
Impairment accounted for part of the association between interviewer-rated major depression and generalised anxiety symptoms and wellbeing. It did not account for persistent depression symptoms in the same way. The anxiety findings were replicated with self-report measures, but the depression findings were not, and indirect effects generally remained over one month only when baseline wellbeing was not controlled.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed limitations beyond the note that some findings were less consistent across measures and over time. The study summary also does not provide enough information to judge causality beyond the tested associations.
Key points
- Functional impairment explained part of the link between internalising symptoms and reduced wellbeing.
- The pattern was most consistent for generalised anxiety symptoms.
- The impairment link for depression was less consistent, and it did not appear for persistent depression in the main analyses.
- Individual symptoms such as uncontrollability, restlessness, irritability, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and trouble concentrating were linked to impairment and lower wellbeing.
- Indirect effects generally persisted over one month only when baseline wellbeing was not controlled.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Functional impairment partly links internalising symptoms and low wellbeing
- Authors:
- Tanika R. Sgherza, Rodrigo Becerra, Lauren M. Bylsma, David M. Fresco, Kristin Naragon-Gainey
- Institutions:
- The University of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia, University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-27
- OpenAlex record:
- View
Get the weekly research newsletter
Stay current with scholarly research without reading academic papers — one filtered digest, every Friday.