Evaluation of Anxiety Levels and Associated Factors in Mothers Attending a Pediatric Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the state and trait anxiety levels of mothers whose children were referred to a pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic, to identify associated sociodemographic and clinical factors, and to compare these findings with those of mothers of healthy children.Methods: This prospective, comparative, observational study enrolled 98 mothers whose children were attending the pediatric gastroenterology clinic for the first time, and 101 mothers whose children were healthy and served as controls. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, clinical features, symptom duration and diagnoses. Maternal anxiety levels were assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The diagnostic groups were categorised as organic gastrointestinal disorders, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and malnutrition.Results: The patient and control groups were comparable in terms of maternal and child age. However, working status and educational level were significantly lower among mothers in the patient group (p 0.001). Mothers in the patient group had significantly higher STAI-Trait scores (49.2 ± 6.8 vs. 46.3 ± 5.4; p = 0.001). STAI-State scores were higher, though not significantly so (p = 0.114). Among diagnostic subgroups, anxiety levels did not differ significantly. STAI-State scores showed a negative correlation with child age (ρ = −0.349, p 0.01). Maternal employment was significantly associated with lower state anxiety (B = −4.33, p = 0.037), whereas education was not associated with either anxiety domain. The duration of symptoms did not correlate with any maternal anxiety parameter. Additionally, no significant associations were found between diagnostic category and either state or trait anxiety.Conclusion: Mothers of children attending pediatric gastroenterology clinics exhibit significantly higher levels of chronic anxiety. Younger child age and an absence of maternal employment were associated with higher situational anxiety. These findings emphasize the importance of incorporating routine psychological screening and supportive interventions into pediatric gastroenterology settings.