Parenting Behavior and Family Function in Families with Anxious Youth: Influence of Youth and Mother Characteristics

Abstract

Objective: Parenting behaviors such as parental psychological control and rejection play a role in the development and maintenance of childhood anxiety. The current study examined the potential moderating role of family functioning in the relationship between parenting behavior (i.e., youth-perceived maternal involvement; autonomy granting) and youth anxiety symptoms. The study also examined the moderating role of youth characteristics (age; comorbid symptoms) and maternal symptoms in the relationship between parenting/family factors and youth anxiety. Method: Participants were mothers and 88 youth (ages 6 to 17 years) who met DSM-IV-TR criteria for an anxiety disorder. Parenting/family variables and youth and maternal symptoms were measured using semi-structured diagnostic interviews and parent- and child-reports. Results: Regression analyses indicated that youth perceived maternal autonomy granting, but not parental involvement, was inversely associated with youth self-reported anxiety. Mother-reported family dysfunction was associated with mother-reported youth anxiety. Youth age, depressive symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms were found to be significant moderators of the relationship between parenting behavior and child anxiety. Family dysfunction did not play a significant moderating role in the relationship between parenting behavior and child anxiety. Discussion: Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.