Routes to transmission of anxiety Sample Clauses

Routes to transmission of anxiety. Extensive research has shown that children whose parents have a psychiatric disorder are at risk of psychological, social and developmental problems (Xxxxxxx 2006; Xxxxxxx and Xxxx 2008). Children whose parents have mental illness seem to be at increased risk of psychiatric illness through an increased likelihood of carrying certain risk genes, and the influence of parental psychiatric illness on the environment (such as increased risk of exposure to adverse life events) (Xxxxx, Xxxxxx et al. 2003). Parental psychiatric disorders may also influence children through gene-environment correlation and epigenetic effects (Xxxxxxxxxxx and Psychogiou 2009). Children often struggle to cope and understand parental problems (Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx et al. 2004) and experience a negative emotional impact (Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx et al. 2003). Family studies have shown a considerable overlap between anxiety disorders in family members. Children of parents with anxiety disorders have elevated rates of anxiety disorders (Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx et al. 1991; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1997; Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx et al. 1998) and rates of anxiety disorders in some studies showed that not only were they elevated compared to normal controls but also in relation to other psychiatric groups which suggests transmission of anxiety may be specific. Mechanisms of transmission however are still poorly understood and have not been the main focus of psychological approaches. Three potentially overlapping routes have been suggested: a) genetic transmission of traits or vulnerabilities to traits (Xxxx, Xxxxxx et al. 2003; Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx et al. 2006); b) the transmission of general stress or anxiety as a product of living with an anxious parent through factors such as parenting style (Hirshfeld, Xxxxxxxxx et al. 1997); and c) transmission of specific symptoms/traits through observation of parental fears and the modelling of specific anxiety behaviours (Xxxx and Xxxxxxx 2000).