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Anxiety

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Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research

Synonyms

Agitation; Apprehension; Concern; Disquiet; Distress; Doubt; Dread; Edginess; Foreboding; Fretfulness; Nervousness; Panic; Restlessness; Rumination; Stress; Suffering; Suspense; Tension; Uncertainty; Unease; Vigilance; Watchfulness; Worry

Definition

Anxiety is an unpleasant and persistent state of negative affect associated with the anticipation of a perceived threat or possible danger. This mood state often includes elevated physiological symptoms of tension along with heightened vigilance to diffuse the threat (American Psychiatric Association 2013; Barlow et al. 2015; Rachman 2013).

Description

Anxiety and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health concerns, with 29% of the population suffering from at least one anxiety disorder (Kessler et al. 2005). While some anxiety is healthy and considered essential for survival, disproportionate levels of anxiety can become debilitating (Steimer 2002). Many anxiety disorders develop in adolescence, whereas others...

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Correspondence to Melanie L. O’Neill .

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O’Neill, M.L., Snaychuk, L.A., Sorochan, J. (2022). Anxiety. In: Maggino, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69909-7_98-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69909-7_98-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-69909-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-69909-7

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