Author: Chien Liu

The relationship between authoritarianparenting and childhood anxiety isone of the most consistently documentedfindings in developmental psychology.While authoritarian parenting — withits high demands, strict rules, andlow warmth — might appear on thesurface to produce confident, disciplinedchildren, the research tells a moresobering story about its effectson children’s anxiety and emotional wellbeing. This article covers what the researchshows…

Of all the comparisons in the parentingstyle research, the contrast betweenpermissive and authoritative parentingis the most practically important —because both styles share genuinewarmth and responsiveness, and thedifference between them is subtleenough to be missed but significantenough to produce dramatically differentoutcomes for children. This article covers what the researchshows about permissive and authoritativeparenting — what each…

Permissive parenting is one of themost difficult parenting patternsto recognize in oneself — becauseits defining features feel, in themoment, like good parenting. Warmthfeels like love. Flexibility feelslike respect. Avoiding conflict feelslike kindness. The recognition thatthese qualities, without accompanyingstructure, constitute permissive parenting —and that permissive parenting producesconcerning outcomes for children —can arrive as a genuine surprise.…

The effects of permissive parentingdo not end at childhood. Researchon the long-term effects of parentingstyle consistently finds that theparenting approaches children experienceshape their adult psychological functioning —including their vulnerability toanxiety — in ways that persist wellbeyond childhood and adolescence. This article covers what the researchshows about the specific relationshipbetween permissive parenting andanxiety in adulthood —…

The relationship between permissiveparenting and anxiety in childrenis one of the more counterintuitivefindings in developmental psychology.Parents who choose permissive approachestypically do so out of a genuinedesire to protect their childrenfrom unnecessary distress — to createa warm, low-pressure environmentwhere children feel safe and loved.The research consistently finds thatthis approach, despite its intentions,is associated with higher ratherthan…

Anxiety and depression frequentlyoccur together in children and adolescents —and when they do, the combinationis more challenging to navigate thaneither condition alone. Research findsthat approximately fifty percent ofchildren with an anxiety disorderalso have depression — and thatthe combination produces greaterimpairment, greater distress, andrequires more comprehensive supportthan either condition in isolation. This article covers what the…

Anxiety is the most common mentalhealth condition in childhood — andone of the most commonly missed.Not because parents don’t care, butbecause childhood anxiety rarelyannounces itself clearly. It hidesin stomachaches and school refusal,in clinginess and perfectionism, inirritability and sleep difficulties —in a dozen presentations that don’timmediately say “this is anxiety.” This article covers the full rangeof…

Bedtime anxiety is one of the mostcommon — and most exhausting — anxietypresentations in childhood. The childwho cannot fall asleep alone, whocalls out repeatedly after lights out,who catastrophizes at bedtime abouteverything that worried them duringthe day, who needs a parent presentto fall asleep — is not being manipulativeor attention-seeking. They are experiencinggenuine anxiety that is…

Anxiety in young children is bothmore common and more treatable thanmost parents realize — and more easilymissed, because children under tenrarely say “I’m anxious.” They saytheir tummy hurts. They say theydon’t want to go. They cling, theycry, they melt down, they withdraw.The anxiety is real — but it speaksin the language of childhood ratherthan the…

School anxiety is one of the mostcommon anxiety presentations in childhood —and one of the most distressing forparents to navigate. The child whocries every morning before school,who complains of stomachaches onschool days, who begs to stay home,or who refuses to go altogether —is not being manipulative or dramatic.They are experiencing genuine anxietyabout the school environment…