The direct and indirect effect of attachment insecurity and negative parental behavior on anxiety in clinically anxious children: it's down to dad
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The direct and indirect effect of attachment insecurity and negative parental behavior on anxiety in clinically anxious children : it's down to dad. / Breinholst, Sonja; Tolstrup, Marie; Esbjørn, Barbara Hoff.
In: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Vol. 24, No. 1, 01.02.2019, p. 44-50.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The direct and indirect effect of attachment insecurity and negative parental behavior on anxiety in clinically anxious children
T2 - it's down to dad
AU - Breinholst, Sonja
AU - Tolstrup, Marie
AU - Esbjørn, Barbara Hoff
PY - 2019/2/1
Y1 - 2019/2/1
N2 - Background: Theoretically, insecure attachment and negative parental behaviors are risk factors for childhood anxiety. However, few empirical studies have examined their relative contribution including differences between mothers and fathers. To date, only one study has examined a mediational model including these factors, albeit in a nonclinical sample. Method: This study ameliorates this limitation by investigating direct and indirect relations between maternal and paternal attachment and behaviors, and clinical anxiety in children (mean age 9.6 years). The study recruited 54 families. Anxiety symptoms were measured by the Spielberger State-trait Inventory for Children, attachment relationships by the Security Scale, and parental behaviors using the Rearing Behavior Questionnaire. Results: Neither insecure attachment relationship with mother nor maternal negative behavior was a significant predictor of anxiety in children. However, insecure attachment to father accounted for a significant proportion of variance in anxiety, and also fully mediated the relationship between paternal rejection and anxiety. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of assessing the relative contribution of risk factors and the importance of including fathers when investigating the development and maintenance of childhood anxiety.
AB - Background: Theoretically, insecure attachment and negative parental behaviors are risk factors for childhood anxiety. However, few empirical studies have examined their relative contribution including differences between mothers and fathers. To date, only one study has examined a mediational model including these factors, albeit in a nonclinical sample. Method: This study ameliorates this limitation by investigating direct and indirect relations between maternal and paternal attachment and behaviors, and clinical anxiety in children (mean age 9.6 years). The study recruited 54 families. Anxiety symptoms were measured by the Spielberger State-trait Inventory for Children, attachment relationships by the Security Scale, and parental behaviors using the Rearing Behavior Questionnaire. Results: Neither insecure attachment relationship with mother nor maternal negative behavior was a significant predictor of anxiety in children. However, insecure attachment to father accounted for a significant proportion of variance in anxiety, and also fully mediated the relationship between paternal rejection and anxiety. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of assessing the relative contribution of risk factors and the importance of including fathers when investigating the development and maintenance of childhood anxiety.
KW - Anxiety
KW - attachment
KW - mediation
KW - parent-child interaction
U2 - 10.1111/camh.12269
DO - 10.1111/camh.12269
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32677229
AN - SCOPUS:85044292181
VL - 24
SP - 44
EP - 50
JO - Child and Adolescent Mental Health
JF - Child and Adolescent Mental Health
SN - 1475-357X
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 226824405