How parents' perceptions of threats affect their children's anxiety
Official title: Parent interpretation bias as a key mechanism of intergenerational transmission of anxiety
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11218720 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how parents' worries about uncertain situations can affect their kids' anxiety, aiming to find ways to help families manage anxiety together.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 25, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $111,618 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH129374-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11218720 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include parents of children aged 0-11 years who are experiencing anxiety symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have children or whose children are not experiencing anxiety symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how parents' interpretation of ambiguous situations as threatening can influence their children's anxiety levels. By focusing on the concept of interpretation bias, the study aims to understand the mechanisms through which anxiety can be transmitted from parents to children. The researchers will empirically test a model that examines the effects of parent interpretation bias on both parent behavior and child interpretation bias, with the goal of identifying potential moderators that could inform personalized interventions for anxiety. This approach seeks to address a critical gap in understanding the intergenerational transmission of anxiety disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective, personalized treatments for children suffering from anxiety by targeting specific parental behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding parental influences on child anxiety can lead to successful interventions, making this approach both relevant and promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Mclean Hospital
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elias, Courtney Beard — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Elias, Courtney Beard
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.