Severity of Fathers’, but not Mothers’, Anxiety Disorders Predicts their Challenging Parenting Behavior

• In Event: New Directions in Paternal Caregiving of Young Children

Abstract

Based on theories proposing that fathers play an important and different role than mothers in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety (Bögels & Phares, 2008), the construct of challenging parenting behavior (CPB) has been developed. CPB involves active physical and verbal behaviors that encourage children to push their limits, such as rough-and-tumble play and encouragement of performances (Majdandžić et al., 2016). Previous research has shown that CPB in early childhood predicts less child anxiety (Lazarus et al., 2016; Majdandžić et al., 2018a; Majdandžić et al., 2018b; Möller et al., 2015), especially when shown by fathers, and for children with a fearful temperament (Majdandžić et al., 2018b). In the literature on the intergenerational transmission of anxiety, less is known about how parents’ own anxiety predicts their CPB. One questionnaire study found negative relations (Möller et al., 2015) and another one did not (Lazarus et al., 2016). Theories propose that fathers’ parenting behavior is more strongly affected by their own anxiety than mothers’ (Bögels & Phares, 2008). The aim of this study was to explore whether fathers’ and mothers’ severity of lifetime anxiety disorders predicts their observed and self-rated CPB across childhood. We hypothesized that anxiety predicts lower levels of CPB, especially for fathers.
Participants were 134 fathers and mothers with their first child participating in a longitudinal study with six data waves. Severity of parents’ anxiety disorders was measured using a clinical interview at a prenatal measurement and at 4.5 years. CPB was assessed using observations in multiple structured and free play situations, and using self-ratings on the Challenging Parenting Behavior Questionnaire at five child ages from early to middle childhood (i.e., 4 months, 1 year, 2.5 years, 4.5 years and 7.5 years).
Multilevel models were run with measurement occasions and parents nested within families. For observations, a significant interaction between parent and severity of anxiety disorders (β = -.21, t(864) = -2.90, p = .004) showed that mothers’ severity of anxiety disorders does not significantly predict their observed CPB (β = .01, t(510) = 0.37, p = .715), but fathers’ severity of anxiety disorders predicts less CPB (β = -.20, t(596) = -2.81, p = .005). Similarly, for questionnaires, a significant interaction with parent (β = -.24, t(934) = -3.72, p < .001) showed that mothers’ severity of anxiety disorders does not predict their self-rated CPB (β = -.05, t(724) = -1.20, p = .232), but fathers’ severity of anxiety disorders predicts less CPB (β = -.29, t(812) = -4.23, p < .001). There were no significant interactions with child sex or age.
This study shows that fathers, but not mothers, with higher severity of anxiety disorders show less CPB throughout childhood. Results were consistent for observed and self-rated CPB. The results support theories that fathers’ parenting is more strongly affected by their own anxiety than mothers’ parenting. Together with previous evidence that fathers’ CPB buffers against anxiety development, this study shows that fathers’ CPB plays an important role in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety.

Authors

• Mirjana Majdandzic, Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA)
  Presenting Author

• Wieke De Vente, University of Amsterdam
  Non-Presenting Author

• Susan Bögels, University of Amsterdam
  Non-Presenting Author