Keywords

anxiety, autonomy granting, parental control, parental expectations, parental warmth

Abstract

As anxiety among children becomes more prevalent, understanding how parenting styles affect its development may become more relevant. Anxiety affects various aspects of individuals' lives (socially, intellectually, physically, and spiritually), adding extra challenges. Anxiety can be influenced by genetics but is also potentially impacted by the child’s environment. Evidence suggests that children whose parents display higher levels of warmth through acceptance and caring behaviors tend to experience lower levels of anxiety (Butterfield et al., 2021). Additionally, lower levels of anxiety have been found in children with parents who utilize increased levels of autonomy, giving their children the freedom to make their own choices (Allen et al., 2016). In contrast, anxiety rates in children may increase when parents engage in overcontrolling behaviors, such as regulating the environment and emotions (Affrunti & Ginsburg, 2012; Nanda et al., 2011). Excessive expectations set by parents, whether academic, career-related, or having to do with extracurriculars, can also lead to higher anxiety in children (Haspolat & Yalçın, 2023). Thus, parents should strive to use practices that will buffer against the development of anxiety in their children.