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DOI: 10.1007/s10964-006-9032-yJournal of Youth and Adolescence, Vol. 35, No. 3, June 2006, pp. 303310 ( C 2006)Existential Anxiety in Adolescents: Prevalence, Structure,
Association with Psychological Symptomsand Identity DevelopmentSteven L. Berman,1 Carl F. Weems,2 and Timothy R. Stickle3Published online: 29 April 2006Existential anxiety is hypothesized to be a core human issue in a great deal of theoretical and
philosophical writing. However, little is known about the emergence of these concerns and their
relation to emotional functioning in youth. The purpose of this study was to examine the phenomenon
of existential anxiety in a sample of adolescents. Data on existential concerns, identity development
and psychological symptoms were collected on a sample of 139 youth in grades 912. Results
indicated that existential anxiety concerns have a theoretically consistent factor structure, are common
among adolescents, and are associated with psychological symptoms, as well as identity issues.
Results are discussed with regard to the importance of existential concerns in the lives of youth and
the need for additional research.KEY WORDS: existential anxiety; identity; adjustment.INTRODUCTIONMuch has been written about existential anxiety,
which involves apprehension about the meaning of life
and death, and research is emerging pointing to the importance of such concerns in the psychological well being
of individuals, yet little is known about the phenomenon
in adolescence. This is unfortunate since adolescence
is likely a time for the emergence of such concerns.
For example, Westenberg et al. (2001) and Warren and
Sroufe (2004) have presented models that suggest that by
adolescence, youth have the cognitive capacity for insight1Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Central Florida. Received PhD from Florida International University. Interests are identity
development including associated anxiety and distress, cross-national
comparisons, and the development of identity interventions. To whom
correspondence should be addressed at Psychology Department, University of Central Florida, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.,
Daytona Beach, Florida 32174; e-mail: [email protected] Professor of Psychology, University of New Orleans. Received PhD from Florida International University. Interests focus on
the developmental psychopathology of anxiety and depression.3Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Vermont. Received
PhD from the University of Arizona. Interests include a range of topics
in developmental psychopathology, prevention, program evaluation,
and research methodology.into mortality and broader world concerns that may give
rise to existential concerns. The purpose of this study...