How parents influence anxiety in their young children

Parent-to-child anxiety transmission in early childhood: Capturing in-the-moment mechanisms through emotion modeling and biological synchrony

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11057719

This study is looking at how parents' feelings and actions can affect their young children's anxiety, focusing on kids from birth to 11 years old, to help understand how these interactions can shape a child's experience with anxiety over time.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-11057719 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how anxiety can be transmitted from parents to children, particularly focusing on children aged 0-11 years. It examines the immediate interactions between parents and children, looking at how parents' emotional expressions and behaviors can shape their child's anxiety responses. By observing these interactions in real-time, the study aims to identify specific moments and behaviors that contribute to anxiety development in children. The research utilizes a longitudinal approach to capture these dynamics over time.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are parents of children aged 0-11 years who may be experiencing anxiety symptoms.

Not a fit: Patients who are not parents or caregivers of young children may not receive any benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing anxiety disorders in children by improving parenting practices.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in understanding the impact of parenting behaviors on child anxiety, making this approach both relevant and promising.

Where this research is happening

University Park, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Anxiety Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.