Shared Stress: Positive and Negative Transference of Anxious Behaviors Between Parent and Child

Childhood anxiety is among one of the most highly reported physiological struggles of children and adolescents. Children of anxious parents are of particular concern, as they have been found to be up to five times more likely to suffer from an anxiety disorder than a child with nonanxious parents. Previous studies have found there to be huge ties to both genetics and environmental factors in the causation of childhood anxiety. This project has two components, and focuses on environmental influences on anxious behaviors, particularly focusing on the messages and habits that an anxious child might learn from a parent. In a brief literature review, this project first outlines the possible impact of a parent's anxious behaviors and identifies several positive habits that might be missing from a parent to child dialogue on anxious feelings and behaviors. The second component of this project is a children's book, which makes the parent to child dialogue on anxiety management more accessible by introducing basic concepts of self-assessment and positive habits in a manner that is relatable, fun, and interactive.

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Grantor

Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Abshier, Whitney

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Watt, Toni Terling

• anxiety
• parent
• child
• stress management

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/6676

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/6676