The Relationship Between Parent and Child Anxiety: Testing the Intergenerational Model of Anxiety in Children Born with a Cleft

ObjectiveTo compare overprotective parenting and child and parent anxiety between children born with and without a cleft lip and/ or palate (CL/P). To understand correlates of anxiety for children born with a CL/P and their parents.Design, Participants, SettingParents of 8- to 12-year-old children with a CL/P (n = 63, mean age = 10.5 years, male = 68.3%), or without a CL/P (control group; n = 66, mean age = 9.9 years, male = 47%) were recruited from the UK community (2022-2024). Most respondents were mothers (92.2%).Outcome measuresParents completed an online survey assessing overprotective parenting, child anxiety, parent anxiety, and (in the CL/P group) parental appraisals.ResultsParent-reported child anxiety was higher in the CL/P group than the control group (ηp² = 0.04, P = .03), while parent anxiety (ηp² = 0.01, P = .26) and overprotective parenting (ηp² = 0.001, P = .73) did not differ significantly between groups. Within the CL/P group, parent-reported child anxiety was associated (P < .05) with parental anxiety (rs = .27), overprotective parenting (rs = .38), and certain parental appraisals (child's self-confidence; rs = .45, and manageability of the CL/P; rs = -.25). Parent anxiety was associated with overprotective parenting (rs = .40), and self-blame appraisals (rs = .37).ConclusionsChildren born with a CL/P may be at increased risk of anxiety by parent-report, while parental anxiety and overprotection appear comparable to controls. Parental appraisals may be promising targets for intervention. Future longitudinal research is required to draw causal inferences.