Anxiety Disorders In Children May Be Minimized Through Family Intervention [Report]

Children of anxious parents are at high risk of developing the same disorder. However, that should not be the case as family-based intervention helps parents raise calm kids, a study says.

There is no denying that some parents struggle with different anxieties. One parent fears driving long distances, another suffers from contamination fears that he cannot bring himself from using public bathrooms and some others might find themselves uncomfortable in enclosed spaces.

These parents do not want their children to suffer the same way. A new research by UConn Health psychiatrist Golda Ginsburg learned that children of anxious parents are at increased risk for developing anxiety, but it need not to be the case, Science Daily has learned.

The researchers found out that only 9 percent of the children who participated in a therapist-directed family intervention developed anxiety after a year, compared to 21 percent in a group that received written instruction, and 31 percent in the group that did not receive any therapy or written instruction.

"The finding underscores the vulnerability of offspring of anxious parents," said Ginsburg. "If we can identify kids at risk, let's try and prevent this."

Ginsburg noted that anxiety tends to run in families with 50 percent of  children getting anxious similar to their parents, according to PsychCentral. Up to now, anxiety prevention programs are being conducted in schools but with only modest success.

"Anxiety and fear are protective and adaptive," said Ginsburg. "But in anxious kids they may not be, because these children have thoughts about danger and threat when there really isn't one."

Ginsburg stressed that inborn temperament and life experiences influence one's anxiety. When a person grows up with more negative experiences, he is more likely to struggle with anxiety as an adult. On the other hand, there's also a component of anxiety that's learned, those who were taught by parents who practice the said behavior. The learned behaviors and thought patterns are the ones that interventions can help change.

According to the report, most of the adults who participated in the study struggled in school but kept it among themselves. They are afraid to raise their hands or got sick prior to exams. These parents are motivated  to help their children avoid the same experience.

The families were taught how to identify the signs of anxiety and how to reduce it. Among the things one can do to reduce anxiety is the reality check, recognizing when fear is healthy and worth paying attention to. For instance, fearing a growling dog is reasonable but suspecting that a birthday cake is poisoned is unhealthy.

"We taught the kids how to identify scary thoughts, and how to change them," Ginsburg revealed. "I'd say we need to change our model of mental health to a checkup method," she added.