Determinants of State Anxiety in Parents of Children with Lymphadenopathy: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Year 2026, Volume: 40 Issue: 1, 111 - 121, 28.01.2026

Sultan Okur Acar , Mehmet Akif Cansiz

Abstract

Abstract
Objective: Pediatric lymphadenopathy is common and usually benign, yet it may trigger substantial parental anxiety. We quantified parental state anxiety and examined clinical and psychosocial correlates, including online information-seeking.
Methods: In a single-center cross-sectional study, parents of 99 consecutive children referred for lymphadenopathy completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The primary outcome was state anxiety (STAI-1); trait anxiety (STAI-2) was treated as a covariate. Child variables included age, sex, lymphadenopathy duration, and lymph node dimensions (short- and long-axis). Internet searching was recorded (yes/no) with perceived helpfulness. We used appropriate parametric/non-parametric tests, correlations, and multivariable linear regression modeling STAI-1 with age, sex, duration, short-axis, internet search, and STAI-2.
Results: Children were 60.6% male; mean age 6.87±4.33 years. Median lymphadenopathy duration was 8.0 weeks; mean short-axis 9.47±3.67 mm and long-axis 22.17±7.37 mm. Epstein–Barr virus serology was negative in 98%. Mean parental STAI-1 and STAI-2 were 39.59±9.99 and 41.24±8.52. Internet searching (43.4% of parents) was not associated with higher STAI-1/2, and STAI scores did not differ by short-axis ≥10 mm. STAI-1 correlated negatively with duration (r=−0.204, p=0.045). In adjusted models, greater child age (B=0.660, p=0.002) and larger short-axis (B=0.562, p=0.019) independently predicted higher STAI-1, whereas longer duration predicted lower STAI-1 (B=−0.150, p=0.002); multicollinearity was negligible (VIF≈1).
Conclusions: Among parents of children evaluated for lymphadenopathy, acute anxiety related more to objective node size and child age than to internet searching, while shorter symptom duration—reflecting greater uncertainty—was linked to higher anxiety. Structured counseling and clear follow-up plans may help effectively mitigate distress in lymphadenopathy clinics.

Keywords

lymphadenopathy , parents , anxiety , STAI , pediatric hematology , internet use

Ethical Statement

The study protocol received approval from the İzmir Bakırçay University Ethics Committee (Approval No. 2302)

Supporting Institution

İzmir Bakırçay University

Thanks

The authors would like to thank Sezer Acar for helpful suggestions on the manuscript.

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