Chill Out: Can parents pass on anxiety to their kids?

I can recall being anxious about certain events in my childhood and adolescence -- college admission decisions, upcoming tests, even whether or not I was really healthy. As it turns out, part of those anxieties may have been inherited.

NPR did an enlightening post about how parents can play a role in reducing anxiety in their children, pointing to a 1997 study that found children in high risk groups were much more likely to have a diagnosable disorder than children of normal parents. According to Golda Ginsburg, psychologist at John Hopkins University School of Medicine who was quoted in the piece, children whose parents struggle with anxiety are two to seven times more likely to develop an anxiety disorder.

Don't worry. It's not a rare thing. According to a Feb. 1, 2014 study published in the Journal of Child & Family Studies, anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. These disorders can negatively impact different areas of a child's functioning and emotional and social development, the researchers stated.

Though it's unclear which parent has more of an influence on a child's ability to cope with anxiety. The 2014 study suggests that fathers of more anxious kids give only limited encouragement for their kid's independence and control, adding that overprotective behavior prevents kids from exploring their environment and gaining coping mechanisms during stressful times.

Fathers may have a more important role in children's exposure to stressful circumstances, but that's not the case for all families, the 2014 study points out. The role of a father and mother differ for each family, so it's important not to generalize. What's unclear is how significantly a mother's anxiety coping mechanisms influences the child.

As NPR points out, therapy can be beneficial for families who suffer from severe anxiety, adding that cognitive behavioral therapy may prevent anxiety from starting.

I don't think a caring parent will ever stop worrying about the well-being of their kid(s). But maybe they'll chill out a bit if they know anxiety can prevent their children from leading a normal life.