Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Symptoms in Parents of Children With Complex Health Conditions: A Meta‐Analysis With Moderator and Dose–Response Modeling

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) reduces anxiety in parents of children with complex health conditions. We conducted a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through April 15, 2025, examining anxiety outcomes measured with standardized scales and assessing moderators, including child diagnosis and intervention dose. After removing two outliers, 10 trials ( n = 582) showed a significant small‐to‐moderate reduction in anxiety (SMD = −0.33; I 2 = 54.7%). Subgroup and meta‐regression analyses indicated larger benefits for parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, studies using passive or non‐intervention controls, and studies employing the DASS anxiety measure. Exploratory dose–response modeling suggested a dose pattern of about three sessions per week, totaling approximately 21 h, with about 40 min per session. Exploratory machine‐learning analysis (XGBoost) highlighted ethnicity, cultural background, total dose, and assessment scale as key predictors. Findings inform family stress theory and methodological approaches to intervention design and evaluation.