Memory and anxiety in prepubertal boys at risk for delinquency

Objective: To examine the association between memory and anxiety symptoms i n young urban-dwelling boys. Method: A series of 111 boys, aged 7 to 11 yea rs, at risk for disruptive psychopathology received standardized assessment s of psychopathology and neuropsychological abilities, including verbal and design memory ability. While neuropsychological ability was rated at an in itial study wave, psychopathology was rated at both an initial and a follow -up study wave, separated by approximately 18 months. Results: Anxiety symp toms were more strongly correlated with poor memory ability than with reduc ed intelligence. Disruptive symptoms, In contrast, were more strongly corre lated with reduced intelligence than with poor memory ability. Finally, boy s with an anxiety disorder exhibited reduced memory abilities relative to o ther boys in the sample. Relationships generally appeared strangest in long itudinal analyses, such that poorer memory ability at study intake predicte d increased anxiety at follow-up. Conclusions: Anxiety is associated with r educed memory ability in young urban boys at risk for disruptive psychopath ology.