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Theoretical Models of Affectionate Versus Affectionless Control in Anxious Families: A Critical Examination Based on Observations of Parent–Child Interactions

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Abstract

Psychosocial theories focused on the intrafamilial transmission of anxiety often concentrate on specific parenting behaviors that increase risk of anxiety disorders in children. Two such theories—affectionate versus affectionless control—both implicate parenting, although differently, in the pathogenesis of childhood anxiety. The present article reviews observational studies that focus on interactions between parents and children in anxious families in order to examine critically each of these two models. We divide these observational studies into two groups: those that seek to characterize the behavior of anxious parents (top-down studies) versus parents of anxious children (bottom-up studies). This approach reveals that there is a consistent relationship between controlling parental behavior in families with anxiety-disordered children as well as a consistent relationship between parental behavior low in warmth and families with anxiety-disordered parents. The present article discusses the implications of the pattern that unfolds from the observational studies of the last decade and provides suggestions for future research in the area.

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Acknowledgments

The first author received support of a Pilot Research Award from an Extramural Associate Research Development Award funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (Grant # 5G11HD043544) while working on this manuscript. We wish to extend our thanks to Amie Grills-Taquechel for her comments on an earlier version of this paper.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, MA, 01063, USA

    Patricia Marten DiBartolo

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Molly Helt

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  1. Patricia Marten DiBartolo
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  2. Molly Helt
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Correspondence to Patricia Marten DiBartolo.

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DiBartolo, P.M., Helt, M. Theoretical Models of Affectionate Versus Affectionless Control in Anxious Families: A Critical Examination Based on Observations of Parent–Child Interactions. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 10, 253–274 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-007-0017-5

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