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Journals / Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 28 Sayı: 2

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADULT SEPARATION ANXIETY AND SELF-ESTEEM IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER

Yaygın Anksiyete Bozukluğu Tanısı Alan Hastalarda Yetişkin Ayrılma Anksiyetesi ile Öz Saygı Arasındaki İlişki

Fatma Kartal(Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, KIRIKKALE, TÜRKİYE)0000-0002-5379-0021
Koray Yarız(Psychiatry Clinic, Kırıkkale Yüksek İhtisas Hospital, KIRIKKALE, TÜRKİYE)0000-0001-5901-8406
Hatice Polat(Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Malatya Turgut Özal University, MALATYA, TÜRKİYE)0000-0003-0444-3717
Merve Karataş(Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, KIRIKKALE, TÜRKİYE)0000-0003-1179-1621
Hayriye Mihrimah Öztürk(Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, KIRIKKALE, TÜRKİYE)0000-0002-4857-931X
Pages
236–243
Publication Date
2026-08-12
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing self-esteem may represent a valuable clinical target for reducing separation anxiety symptoms.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-esteem and both childhood and adult separation anxiety in individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders, and to evaluate the predictive role of self-esteem on adult separation anxiety.
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Key Findings & Data:Material and Methods: The study was conducted between September and November 2022 with 102 patients diagnosed with an anxiety disorder according to DSM-5 criteria and 102 healthy controls who presented to the outpatient clinic of a training and research hospital.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing self-esteem may represent a valuable clinical target for reducing separation anxiety symptoms.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2022 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Ayrılma anksiyetesi · öz saygı · anksiyete bozuklukları

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-esteem and both childhood and adult separation anxiety in individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders, and to evaluate the predictive role of self-esteem on adult separation anxiety. Material and Methods: The study was conducted between September and November 2022 with 102 patients diagnosed with an anxiety disorder according to DSM-5 criteria and 102 healthy controls who presented to the outpatient clinic of a training and research hospital. Participants completed a sociodemographic data form, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory, and the Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0, and group comparisons, correlation analyses, and regression analyses were performed. Results: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale scores were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group, indicating lower levels of self-esteem. The patient group also showed significantly higher Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire scores and a greater proportion of individuals exceeding the clinical cut-off for adult separation anxiety (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between groups regarding childhood separation anxiety. Correlation analyses revealed that lower self-esteem was positively associated with both childhood and adult separation anxiety. Regression analyses demonstrated that lower self-esteem and higher Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory scores were significant independent predictors of elevated adult separation anxiety levels. Conclusion: Individuals with anxiety disorders exhibit lower self-esteem and higher adult separation anxiety compared to healthy controls. Self-esteem is closely associated with both childhood and adult separation anxiety and serves as an important predictor of adult separation anxiety. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing self-esteem may represent a valuable clinical target for reducing separation anxiety symptoms.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, yaygın anksiyete bozukluğu tanısı alan yetişkinlerde benlik saygısı ile hem çocukluk çağı hem de yetişkinlik dönemi ayrılma anksiyetesi arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek ve benlik saygısının yetişkin ayrılma anksiyetesi üzerindeki yordayıcı etkisini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışma Eylül–Kasım 2022 tarihleri arasında bir eğitim ve araştırma hastanesinin polikliniğine başvuran, DSM-5’e göre yaygın anksiyete bozukluğu tanısı alan 102 hasta ve 102 sağlıklı kontrol ile yürütülmüştür. Tüm katılımcılara sosyodemografik formun yanı sıra Rosenberg Benlik Saygısı Ölçeği, Ayrılma Anksiyetesi Belirti Envanteri ve Yetişkin Ayrılma Anksiyetesi Ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Veriler SPSS 22.0 kullanılarak analiz edilmiş; grup karşılaştırmaları, korelasyon ve regresyon analizleri yapılmıştır. Bulgular: Hasta grubunda RSES puanları kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı düzeyde yüksek bulunmuş, bu da daha düşük benlik saygısına işaret etmiştir. Ayrıca hasta grubunun ASA-27 puanları ve klinik eşik üzerindeki yetişkin ayrılma anksiyetesi oranları belirgin şekilde daha yüksektir (p < 0.001). Çocukluk çağı ayrılma anksiyetesi açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı fark saptanmamıştır. Korelasyon analizleri, düşük benlik saygısının hem çocukluk hem de yetişkin ayrılma anksiyetesi ile pozitif yönde ilişkili olduğunu göstermiştir. Regresyon analizlerinde ise düşük benlik saygısı ve yüksek SASI puanları, yetişkin ayrılma anksiyetesini anlamlı biçimde yordayan iki bağımsız değişken olarak belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Yaygın anksiyete bozukluğu olan bireylerde benlik saygısı düşüktür ve yetişkin ayrılma anksiyetesi belirgin şekilde yüksektir. Benlik saygısının hem çocukluk hem de yetişkin ayrılma anksiyetesiyle yakından ilişkili olduğu ve yetişkin ayrılma anksiyetesinin önemli bir yordayıcısı olduğu görülmüştür. Bu bulgular, benlik saygısını güçlendirmeye yönelik müdahalelerin ayrılma anksiyetesi belirtilerini azaltmada klinik açıdan değerli bir hedef olabileceğini göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Kartal, F., Yarız, K., Polat, H., Karataş, M., Öztürk, H. M. (2026). THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADULT SEPARATION ANXIETY AND SELF-ESTEEM IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER. Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 28 Sayı: 2, 236–243. https://doi.org/10.24938/kutfd.1839341

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