Prediction of anxiety symptoms in preschool-aged children: examination of maternal and paternal perspectives.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about risk factors for anxiety in young children. The current study investigated the value of a set of theoretically derived risk factors to predict symptoms of anxiety in a sample of preschool-aged children.


METHODS
Mothers (n = 632) and fathers (n = 249) completed questionnaires twice, 12 months apart. Measures were selected to assess several risk factors derived from current theory, including parental negative affectivity, child inhibition, parent overprotection, and impact of life events.


RESULTS
Even at this young age anxiety across 12 months was moderately to highly stable (r's = .75 and .74 based on maternal and paternal report respectively). Over and above this stability, according to maternal report, anxiety at 12 months was significantly predicted by prior maternal overprotection, impact of negative life events, child's inhibition, and maternal negative affectivity. According to paternal report, anxiety at 12 months was significantly predicted by prior paternal overprotection and impact of negative life events. The models did not differ significantly for girls and boys.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support theories of the development of anxiety, especially the role of parental and external environmental factors, and point to possible targets for prevention of heightened anxiety in young children.
Edwards
Susan L
SL
Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
Rapee
Ronald M
RM
Kennedy
Susan
S
D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010332:Paternal Behavior; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors