Early Adolescents’ Perceptions of Their Mother’s Anxious Parenting as a Predictor of Anxiety Symptoms 12 Months Later

Abstract

Parental overprotection and modeling of fearful behaviors have been proposed to play a central role in the development of anxiety. Yet there have been few longitudinal examinations of these relationships and virtually none focusing on the adolescent period. The current study measured adolescent perceptions of maternal anxious parenting (a combination of overprotection and expression of anxiety), mothers' levels of anxiousness, and adolescents' anxiety symptoms in 421 girls in grade 7 and their mothers. Measures were repeated 12 months later. When the adolescent's self report of anxiety was used as the outcome, the adolescent's perception of maternal anxious parenting significantly predicted adolescent anxiety 12 months later. When the mother's report of adolescent anxiety was used as the outcome adolescent anxiety significantly predicted adolescent perceptions of maternal anxious parenting 12 months later. Maternal anxiousness predicted the adolescent's perception of anxious parenting, but meditational relationships were not significant in either model. The data are partly consistent with reciprocal influence models of parent/child relationships but point to the importance of informant perspectives in determining relationships between these complex variables.

Testing a developmental model of anxiety with the Parental Facilitation of Mastery Scale

“…Therefore, it is possible that recollections of parenting behaviors are merely reflections of current psychopathology. Although there is empirical evidence to support the proposed direction of associations (Bayer et al, 2006;Gillespie et al, 2003;Knappe et al, 2009;Rapee, 2009), longitudinal or experimental designs are needed to test the causal relationships between variables in the model. We also attempted to validate the PFMS using informant reports; however, is possible that siblings do not represent an independent source of information because their perceptions are influenced by the individual's own view of their upbringing.…”

“…These studies have used many different populations, including clinical parents, clinical children, and non-clinical participants; different offspring age groups, including children, adolescents, and adults; and different methodologies including self-report and observation of parenting behaviors. Although the majority of this research is cross-sectional, longitudinal data and twin modeling studies suggest either a causal relationship from parenting behaviors to offspring anxiety or a bi-directional relationship (Bayer, Sanson, & Hemphill, 2006;Gillespie, Zhu, Neale, Heath, & Martin, 2003;Knappe et al, 2009;Rapee, 2009). Further, a wide body of evidence supports the link between a diminished sense of control and anxiety .…”

Parental Behaviors During Family Interactions Predict Changes in Depression and Anxiety Symptoms During Adolescence

“…Other longitudinal studies using self-report measures of parenting in early and middle childhood samples have found a prospective relationship between parental controlling behaviors, low warmth, and negative emotional expressivity and childhood anxiety symptoms (Duchesne et al 2010;Volbrecht and Hill Goldsmith 2010). Longitudinal studies based on adolescents' reports of parental behaviors have found that perceived overprotective, rejecting and anxious parenting predicts an increase in adolescents' anxiety symptoms over time (Lieb et al 2000;Rapee 2009). …”

Family Factors in the Development and Management of Anxiety Disorders

“…While the majority of research has utilised cross-sectional methodology, a few longitudinal studies have begun to emerge (Edwards et al 2010;Rapee 2009;Rubin et al 2002). Most of these studies have been conducted with very young (preschool-aged) children.…”