From Parents to Teens: Unpacking the Anxiety Transmission Pathway in Parent-Adolescent Dyads through Parent-Adolescent Relationships and Academic Stress.

Abstract

ObjectiveWhile previous studies have established the transmission of anxiety between parents and children, few have examined this process in adolescents. This study addresses this gap using a large cross-sectional dyadic dataset of Chinese adolescents and their parents. MethodA total of 2308 Chinese adolescents (M_age = 15.36 ± 0.52, 51.87% male) and their parents participated. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the association between parental anxiety (parent-reported) and adolescent anxiety (self-reported), with parent-adolescent relationships and academic stress as mediators and self-affirmation as a moderator. Gender differences in the model were also examined. ResultsParental anxiety indirectly contributed to adolescent anxiety through weakened parent-adolescent relationships and increased academic stress. However, a strong self-affirmation buffered the negative impact of academic stress on adolescent anxiety. Additionally, girls were more susceptible to parental anxiety than boys. ConclusionParental anxiety poses a significant risk to adolescent mental health, with girls being particularly vulnerable.