Overprotective parenting and child anxiety: The role of co-occurring child behavior problems

The relationship between overprotective parenting and child anxiety has been examined repeatedly because theories emphasize its role in the maintenance of child anxiety. No study has yet tested whether this relationship is unique to child anxiety, by controlling for commonly co-occurring behavior problems within the same children. The current study examined 190 children (age 7–13, 89 boys) referred to mental health clinics and their parents. Results revealed that significant correlations between overprotective parenting and child anxiety symptoms disappear after controlling for co-occurring child behavior symptoms. It appears that overprotection is not uniquely related to child anxiety. Furthermore, overprotective parenting was significantly and uniquely related to child behavior symptoms. Researchers and practitioners need to consider co-occurring child behavior problems when working with the parents of anxious children.

► We examined the role of child behavior problems in the relationship between overprotective parenting and child anxiety.
► Correlations between overprotective parenting and child anxiety symptoms disappeared after controlling for co-occurring child behavior symptoms.
► Maternal overprotective parenting was significantly higher in the group of children with behavior disorders compared to children with anxiety disorders.