Frontiers in psychology
Associations between behavioral trait expression, anxiety, and depression in a multi-site recovery sample
By Roop J.
Abstract
Background
Anxiety and depressive symptoms are commonly evaluated as indicators of psychological distress, yet less is known about how broader patterns of behavioral trait expression relate to these symptoms at the individual level. This study examined associations between overall trait expression and anxiety and depression among adults participating in recovery-oriented behavioral health programming.
Methods
A retrospective observational analysis was conducted using routine assessment data collected between August 2023 and May 2026 across multiple U. S. behavioral healthcare settings. Records from the Trait and Hero Discovery Assessment, Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were matched to the same participant and assessment occasion. The primary analytic sample included 278 matched assessment occasions representing 252 participants. Associations were evaluated using Pearson correlations, with Spearman correlations, participant-clustered regression, mixed-effects models, and alternative assessment-matching windows used as sensitivity analyses. Internal consistency was also evaluated for the study measures.