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Child / Adolescent - Anxiety

(PS5-45) Parent-child Communication and Emotion Expression in Youth Receiving Anxiety Treatment

Friday, November 15, 2024
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown

    Author(s)

  • SL

    Sara Leik, None

    Research Assistant
    Temple University
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • JN

    Julia Ney, M.A.

    Doctoral Student
    Temple University
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Philip C. Kendall, ABPP, Ph.D.

    Distinguished Professor of Psychology
    Temple University
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Abstract Text: Studies have found that parent-child relationship style can play a role in the development of emotion expression in children. Additionally, children with anxiety can often struggle with their ability to express emotions. However, to date no study has explored the relationship between parent child communication and emotion expression among individuals with anxiety disorders. In the current study, we will investigate the relationship between child-reported expectations and experiences of communication with their parents and their level of emotion expression through treatment. The study will be conducted with a sample of youth (n=83) undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety. Youth are ages 7-17 (M = 11.88, SD = 2.9), 61.49% female, 69.9% white, and the remainder are multiracial (14.5%), Hispanic or Latinx (4.8%), Black (4.8%), Asian (3.6%), and other (3.6%). Participants are clients at a university research clinic in Philadelphia, PA diagnosed with a primary anxiety disorder using a semi-structured interview (ADIS-5-C/P). All participants have completed The Parent Child Relationship Schema Scale (PCRSS) at pre-treatment and the Emotion Expression Scale for Children (EESC) both pre- and post-treatment. First, two correlation analyses will explore the relationship between the PCRSS communication and attention subscale (both part 1, expectations, and part 2, experiences) and the child-reported EESC at pretreatment. Next, two linear regressions will examine whether expected or experienced parent-child communication moderates change in emotion expression throughout CBT.  Data collection is complete. Findings will inform researchers and therapists about the relationship between expectations and experiences of parent-child communication and emotion expression in youth undergoing CBT for anxiety disorders.