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. 2025 Jan;19(1):e13636.
doi: 10.1111/eip.13636. Epub 2024 Dec 19.

Network Structure of Transdiagnostic Dimensions of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents With Subthreshold Anxiety and Depression: Links With Psychopathology and Socio-Emotional Adjustment

Gabriel Ródenas-Perea  1   2 , Alfonso Pérez-Esteban  3 , Alicia Pérez-Albéniz  3 , Susana Al-Halabí  2 , Eduardo Fonseca-Pedrero  3
Affiliations

Network Structure of Transdiagnostic Dimensions of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents With Subthreshold Anxiety and Depression: Links With Psychopathology and Socio-Emotional Adjustment

Gabriel Ródenas-Perea et al. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Background: The transdiagnostic and network model approaches to psychopathology have emerged as an alternative to taxonomic systems. The main goal was to examine the network structure of the transdiagnostic dimensions of emotional disorders in adolescents with subclinical emotional symptoms. In addition, cross-sectional network analyses were conducted to investigate the relationships between transdiagnostic dimensions, psychopathology, and socio-emotional adjustment.

Method: The sample consisted of a total of 476 adolescents from 85 schools from different provinces in Spain with subthreshold anxiety and depression. The mean age was 13.77 years (SD = 1.43, range: 10-18 years), 73.9% were female. Several questionnaires assessing transdiagnostic dimensions of emotional disorders, mental health difficulties, self-esteem, perceived social support, sense of belonging at school, and prosocial behaviour were used.

Results: A strong interrelation was found between the transdiagnostic variables, except with the positive temperament dimension. The dimensions with the greatest weight were those of traumatic re-experiencing, intrusive cognitions, avoidance, neuroticism, and depressed mood. Negative relationships were found between the transdiagnostic dimensions of emotional disorders and the protective factors included in the study. Stability analyses indicated that the networks were accurately estimated.

Conclusion: The present paper points to the value of conceptualising emotional disorders from a transdiagnostic and network model perspective. In addition, the work provides new insights into the nature of the relationships between transdiagnostic dimensions of emotional disorders, and the role played by risk and protective factors.

Keywords: adolescents; emotional disorders; network model; subclinical symptoms; transdiagnostic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Estimated network of MEDI dimensions. Blue edges represent positive associations; red edges represent negative associations. Thickness and saturation of edges indicate the strength of associations. Areas in the circles around nodes show the predictability of each node.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Strength and expected influence values of the MEDI dimensions in the estimated network. AA = autonomic arousal; AVD = avoidance; DM = depressed mood; IC = intrusive cognitions; NT = neurotic temperament; PT = positive temperament; SOC = social anxiety; SOM = somatic anxiety; TRM = traumatic re‐experiencing.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Estimated network of MEDI dimensions and risk and protective factors. Blue edges represent positive associations; red edges represent negative associations. Thickness and saturation of edges indicate the strength of associations. Areas in the circles around nodes show the predictability of each node.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Strength and expected influence values of the MEDI dimensions and the risk and protective factors. AA = autonomic arousal; AVD = avoidance; DM = depressed mood; IC = intrusive cognitions; NT = neurotic temperament; PT = positive temperament; SOC = social anxiety; SOM = somatic anxiety; TRM = traumatic re‐experiencing.
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