The role of meta-cognition and parenting in adolescent worry

In the meta-cognitive model of worry, positive, and negative beliefs about worry interact to make worry problematic. These beliefs have been found to be associated with anxiety in adolescents, but it is unknown whether they are associated with worry. Furthermore, it may be via cognitive mechanisms such as these, or directly through behavior, that parents influence their child's worry. The current study aimed to explore whether adolescent meta-cognition and parenting behaviors and meta-cognitions were associated with adolescent worry. Results indicated that meta-cognitions were specifically associated with worry in adolescents, but there was little evidence that parenting was. Parental worry on the other hand was associated with both parent and child reported parenting. It is concluded that the meta-cognitive model of worry may be relevant in adolescents, but that further research is required to explore how parents influence adolescent worry.

Research highlightsAdolescent worry is associated with both positive and negative metacognitions about worry, even when controlling for anxiety. ▶ Metacognitions about worry predict worry in adolescents along with anxiety, parent worry and child reported parental warmth. ▶ There is little concordance between adolescent and parent metacognitions about worry.