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Parent Depression and Child Anxiety: An Overview of the Literature with Clinical Implications

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Abstract

The association of parental depression with child anxiety has received relatively little attention in the literature. In this paper we initially present several reasons for examining this relationship. We then summarize the empirical support for a link between these two variables. Finally, we discuss directions for future research and clinical implications of an association of parental depression with child anxiety.

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Acknowledgments

The idea for this paper emerged from work on two parallel NIMH grants, R01MH069940 and RO1MH069928, examining a family cognitive-behavioral preventive intervention for children of depressed parents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    Christina J. M. Colletti, Rex Forehand, Emily Garai & Aaron Rakow

  2. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Laura McKee

  3. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Jessica M. Fear & Bruce E. Compas

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  1. Christina J. M. Colletti
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  2. Rex Forehand
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  3. Emily Garai
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  4. Aaron Rakow
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  5. Laura McKee
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  6. Jessica M. Fear
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  7. Bruce E. Compas
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Correspondence to Rex Forehand.

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Colletti, C.J.M., Forehand, R., Garai, E. et al. Parent Depression and Child Anxiety: An Overview of the Literature with Clinical Implications. Child Youth Care Forum 38, 151–160 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-009-9074-x

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