Understanding how a parent's worry influences a child's anxiety
Official title: Parent interpretation bias as a key mechanism of intergenerational transmission of anxiety
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11264889 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A parent-focused study looks at how a parent’s anxious thinking might shape a child’s worry and whether this could lead to better, more personalized treatments for anxious kids.
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 | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $743,794 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH129374-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11264889 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with a child experiencing anxiety and a parent who also shows anxious thinking patterns may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Families without a parent anxiety pattern or with children without anxiety symptoms may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates whether a parent’s tendency to see threat in ambiguous situations affects how their child interprets and responds to anxious situations. Researchers will test a model linking parent interpretation bias to both parent and child behaviors, and how these patterns may vary with moderators to tailor interventions. The work involves examining family dynamics, child psychology, and potential intervention targets to reduce childhood anxiety. The study builds on prior findings and uses data from families to understand how anxiety is transmitted across generations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to personalized treatments that address parent thinking patterns to reduce anxiety in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports the idea that parental cognition can influence child anxiety, but this study aims to refine mechanisms for personalized interventions.
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.