What the study found
The study found that changes in socialization goals were not globally linked to child and adolescent anxiety disorders when the goal was independence. However, greater emphasis on religious faith, a socialization goal tied to interdependence, was associated with fewer anxiety disorders across time. The authors also reported that the association between independence orientation and more anxiety was stronger in WEIRD countries, meaning Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic countries.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that cultural change may play a role in children's and adolescents' mental health. They also suggest that religiosity may be protective by fostering purpose and social connectedness, and they underscore the need for greater support for young people growing up in increasingly secular societies.
What the researchers tested
The researchers examined links between time-period changes from 1989 to 2022 in socialization goal norms and child and adolescent anxiety disorder incidence rates across 70 countries. They used data from the World Value Survey, the Global Burden of Disease study, the Human Development Report, and the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. They also ran country-level cross-temporal regressions, moderation analyses, validation analyses with individual-level U.S. data, and a cross-lagged panel model.
What worked and what didn't
No global effect was found for independence-oriented socialization norms. Moderation analyses found no association among non-WEIRD countries, but a significantly stronger link between independence orientation and more anxiety disorders among WEIRD countries. Globally, stronger emphasis on the interdependence-related goal of religious faith was associated with fewer anxiety disorders over time, and U.S. validation analyses replicated this pattern; religiosity norms were also a stronger predictor than maternal religiosity, and the cross-lagged panel model supported a possible direction from religiosity to child and adolescent anxiety.
What to keep in mind
The abstract says the effect sizes were small. The available summary does not describe additional limitations beyond the country-group differences and the specific measures used.
Key points
- Independence-oriented socialization norms were not linked to anxiety disorders across all countries.
- The independence-anxiety link was stronger in WEIRD countries and not seen in non-WEIRD countries.
- Greater emphasis on religious faith was associated with fewer child and adolescent anxiety disorders globally.
- U.S. validation analyses replicated the religiosity finding and found religiosity norms were a stronger predictor than maternal religiosity.
- A cross-lagged panel model suggested a possible direction from religiosity to child and adolescent anxiety.
- The abstract reports that effect sizes were small.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Religiosity norms linked to fewer child anxiety disorders across countries
- Authors:
- Leonard Konstantin Kulisch, Ana Lorena Domínguez Rojas, Silvia Schneider, Babett Voigt
- Institutions:
- German Center for Lung Research, German Center for Lung Research, German Center for Lung Research, Osnabrück University, Ruhr University Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Universidad Católica de Pereira
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-08
- DOI:
- 10.1111/desc.70157
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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