Preschoolers and anxiety: The effect of parental characteristics

PROBLEM

Anxiety is a common phenomenon among children that can lead to adverse developmental outcomes. A challenging parent-child relationship and its characteristics may negatively impact the development of a child's internalizing problems. However, theoretical models on children's anxiety have not fully emphasized the contribution of parenting and environmental factors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the possible correlations between parenting styles and other parental characteristics with children's anxiety.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 443 parents of preschool children who completed the Parenting Styles and Dimension Questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5. The univariate analysis included differences between demographic groups, assessed with independent sample t-tests. Associations between demographic evidence and child anxiety were estimated using χ2 tests. Binomial logistic regression analysis assessed the most important parenting characteristics contributing to a child's anxiety.

FINDINGS

A total of 24.6% of the children had borderline or clinical symptoms of anxiety. Parents whose children were anxious were more permissive than parents of nonanxious children (p < 0.001). Mothers were more authoritative compared to fathers. In addition, permissive parenting style increased the probability of a child's anxiety and maternal permissive style emerged as a significant predictor of anxiety in preschoolers (p < 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that the permissive parenting style is associated with anxiety in preschool children. Furthermore, the maternal permissive style was identified as a predictor of anxiety. Future research may address its causal effect on anxiety and other behavioral problems, focusing on multiple perspective relationships and cultural dimensions.

[Standardization of the Greek version of Zung's Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)]

Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), introduced by Zung, has been widely used in research and in clinical practice for the detection of anxiety. The present study aims at standardizing the Greek version of SAS. SAS consists of 20 items rated on a 1-4 likert type scale. The total SAS score may vary from 20 (no anxiety at all) to 80 (severe anxiety). Two hundred and fifty four participants (114 male and 140 female), psychiatric patients, physically ill and general population individuals, aged 45.40±11.35 years, completed the following: (a) a demographic characteristics' questionnaire, (b) the SAS Greek version, (c) the Spielberg's Modified Greek State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI-Gr.-X) and (d) the Zung Depression Rating Scale (ZDRS). Seventy six participants answered the SAS twice within a 12th-day median period of time. The following parameters were calculated: (a) internal consistency of the SAS in terms of Cronbach's α co-efficient, (b) its test-retest reliability in terms of the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and (c) its concurrent and convergent validities through its score's Spearman's rho correlations with both the state and trait subscales of STAI-Gr X and the ZDRS. In addition, in order to evaluate SAS' discriminant validity, the scale's scores of the three groups of participants (psychiatric patients, physically ill and general population individuals) were compared among each other, in terms of Kruskall Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests. SAS Cronbach's alpha equals 0.897 while ICC regarding its test-retest reliability equals 0.913. Spearman's rho concerning validity: (a) when SAS is compared to STAI-Gr.-X (state), equals it 0.767, (b) when SAS is compared to STAI-Gr. X (trait), it equals 0.802 and (c) when SAS is compared to ZDRS, it equals 0.835. The mentally ill scored significantly higher in SAS compared to both the healthy and the general population. In conclusion, the SAS Greek version presents very satisfactory psychometric properties regarding its reliability and validity as well.