Maternal Expectations and Overinvolvement, and Child Emotion Regulation in Children with and Without Anxiety Disorders: An Experimental Observational Study

This study explores how child emotion regulation (ER) and maternal overinvolvement contribute to the maintenance of anxiety disorders (ADs) in children. Building on the tripartite model on the impact of the family on children’s emotion regulation and adjustment, it experimentally examines the impact of maternal expectations on overinvolvement and child distress. 65 children with ADs (ages 8–15) and 64 healthy controls (HCs) and their mothers participated in a tangram task, with manipulated maternal expectations. Mother–child interactions were observed for maternal involvement and child behavior (ER, distress), with children reporting their emotional reactivity. Against expectations, maternal involvement did not differ between groups and was not influenced by expectations. HC children had better ER abilities than those with ADs. Emotional reactivity moderated the relationship between overinvolvement and ER problems. Children with ADs exhibited more distress, unaffected by maternal expectations. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between parental behavior and child behavior, particularly regarding emotional reactivity.