Parental cognitions and child anxiety: A systematic review

Abstract

Given the well-established link between maladaptive parenting behaviors (e.g., control, accommodation) and the development and maintenance of child anxiety, it is important to understand parental cognitions that may underlie these parenting behaviors. The goal of this systematic review was to examine the extent to which parental cognitions are associated with child anxiety. A systematic electronic database search of PubMed, PsycINFO, ProQuest Psychology, and EBSCO Child Development and Adolescent Studies was conducted in February 2024. In total, 31 studies met inclusion criteria from 9867 abstracts initially identified. The review revealed that a large number of studies have consistently found associations between child anxiety and two types of parental cognitions, negative beliefs about child anxiety and negative expectations of the child’s anxiety. In contrast, studies investigating parental worries about threats to their child and cognitions about parenting are more limited and have produced mixed findings and smaller effects. Future research should examine the directionality and mechanisms of relations between parental cognitions and child anxiety using longitudinal designs, as well as explore the role of cultural factors. Findings suggest that parental cognitions may be an important factor in understanding child anxiety and a potential target for prevention and early intervention.