A replication study to evaluate parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms

Parental internalizing symptoms have been linked to children’s anxiety symptoms, but findings on the differential influence of mothers and fathers symptoms are mixed. The current study aims to replicate and extend previous findings by examining the role of parental internalizing symptoms in older yo...

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Main Authors: Thomas B. Bertelsen, Åshild Tellefsen Håland
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2466935
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author Thomas B. Bertelsen
Åshild Tellefsen Håland
author_facet Thomas B. Bertelsen
Åshild Tellefsen Håland
author_sort Thomas B. Bertelsen
collection DOAJ
description Parental internalizing symptoms have been linked to children’s anxiety symptoms, but findings on the differential influence of mothers and fathers symptoms are mixed. The current study aims to replicate and extend previous findings by examining the role of parental internalizing symptoms in older youth with a broader range of anxiety disorders. Youth aged 12 to 18 years (Mage = 15.3 years, SD = 1.3, 76.5% female) with anxiety disorders were recruited from two community health clinics. Before receiving the intervention, the youth (n = 90), mothers (n = 79), and father (n = 50) reported the youth’s anxiety symptoms, while parents also reported their own internalizing symptoms. Multiple regression models examined parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of youth anxiety symptoms. Neither father- nor mother-rated internalizing symptoms predicted youths self-rated anxiety symptoms (adj. R2 = 0.05), failing to replicate findings from previous research. However, in line with previous research, maternal internalizing symptoms did predict mother-rated child anxiety symptoms (adj. R2 = 0.23). The findings suggest that for older youth, the parents perception of youth anxiety may be shaped by their own internalizing symptoms. For clinicians, this highlights the importance of multiple informants and not over-relying on parental ratings when working with older youth.
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spelling doaj-art-7cdc03986af1452ea4f1c584d5e1ff782025-08-20T03:12:50ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Psychology2331-19082025-12-0112110.1080/23311908.2025.2466935A replication study to evaluate parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptomsThomas B. Bertelsen0Åshild Tellefsen Håland1Department of Child and Adolescence Mental Health, Kristiansand, NorwayDepartment of Child and Adolescence Mental Health, Kristiansand, NorwayParental internalizing symptoms have been linked to children’s anxiety symptoms, but findings on the differential influence of mothers and fathers symptoms are mixed. The current study aims to replicate and extend previous findings by examining the role of parental internalizing symptoms in older youth with a broader range of anxiety disorders. Youth aged 12 to 18 years (Mage = 15.3 years, SD = 1.3, 76.5% female) with anxiety disorders were recruited from two community health clinics. Before receiving the intervention, the youth (n = 90), mothers (n = 79), and father (n = 50) reported the youth’s anxiety symptoms, while parents also reported their own internalizing symptoms. Multiple regression models examined parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of youth anxiety symptoms. Neither father- nor mother-rated internalizing symptoms predicted youths self-rated anxiety symptoms (adj. R2 = 0.05), failing to replicate findings from previous research. However, in line with previous research, maternal internalizing symptoms did predict mother-rated child anxiety symptoms (adj. R2 = 0.23). The findings suggest that for older youth, the parents perception of youth anxiety may be shaped by their own internalizing symptoms. For clinicians, this highlights the importance of multiple informants and not over-relying on parental ratings when working with older youth.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2466935Childrenadolescentsparentsanxietyanxiety disordersGeneral Psychology
spellingShingle Thomas B. Bertelsen
Åshild Tellefsen Håland
A replication study to evaluate parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms
Cogent Psychology
Children
adolescents
parents
anxiety
anxiety disorders
General Psychology
title A replication study to evaluate parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms
title_full A replication study to evaluate parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms
title_fullStr A replication study to evaluate parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms
title_full_unstemmed A replication study to evaluate parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms
title_short A replication study to evaluate parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms
title_sort replication study to evaluate parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms
topic Children
adolescents
parents
anxiety
anxiety disorders
General Psychology
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2466935
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