Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Language

English

Publication Date

9-1-2023

Journal

Journal of Clinical Psychology

DOI

10.1002/jclp.23516

PMID

36971223

PMCID

PMC10440255

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

9-1-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Background: Although childhood exposure to parental threatening behaviors is associated with elevated anxiety in emerging adulthood, the underlying mechanisms remain unexplored. Perceived stress-a subjective experience comprised of feelings of helplessness (being unable to cope or exert control) and poor self-efficacy (confidence in one's ability to manage stressors)-is one candidate mechanism. The present investigation examined the underlying role of perceived stress in the association between childhood exposure to parental threatening behaviors and anxiety symptom severity in a sample of emerging adults.

Methods: Participants (N = 855; Mage = 18.75 years, SD = 1.05, range 18-24; 70.8% female) were recruited from a large state university and administered a battery of self-report questionnaires assessing constructs of interest.

Results: Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses indicated that only greater childhood exposure to maternal threatening behaviors was directly associated with greater feelings of helplessness and lower self-efficacy. Furthermore, only childhood exposure to maternal threatening behaviors was indirectly associated with anxiety severity through greater feelings of helplessness and lower self-efficacy. In contrast, childhood exposure to paternal threatening behaviors was neither directly nor indirectly associated with anxiety severity.

Limitations: Limitations include a cross-sectional design, use of self-report measures, and a nonclinical sample. Replicating these findings in a clinical sample and testing the hypothesized model in a longitudinal design is necessary.

Conclusions: Findings underscore the need for intervention efforts that screen for and target perceived stress in emerging adults exposed to negative maternal parenting behaviors.

Keywords

Adult, Humans, Child, Female, Adolescent, Male, Cross-Sectional Studies, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Parenting, Parents, Stress, Psychological, anxiety, emerging adulthood, young adulthood, parenting behaviors, self-efficacy, perceived helplessness

Published Open-Access

yes

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