Which factor is more strongly associated with anxiety, depression, and related disorders according to the material?

• A. A conflict-ridden home
• B. Childhood abuse alone
• C. A supportive family
• D. High intelligence

Answer: (A)

Chronic, conflict-ridden home environments create ongoing stress and insecurity that shape how a child experiences and regulates emotions, leading to a higher risk of anxiety and depressive disorders. This persistent exposure to hostility and dysfunctional dynamics tends to have a stronger association with internalizing problems than a single factor like abuse alone. While abuse can contribute to risk, the material emphasizes that the broader pattern of family conflict and dysfunction amplifies vulnerability more consistently. A supportive family, in contrast, buffers risk and is not associated with higher anxiety or depression, and high intelligence does not inherently increase these risks.