Association between Maternal Anxiety and Children’s Problem Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Although numerous studies have found that maternal anxiety is a risk factor for the development of children’s problem behaviors, and there is a possible role of genes in the association between the two. And anxious mothers caring for their children can also affect the development of children’s problem behaviors. However, there is also considerable evidence from studies that refute this view. This study used a meta-analysis to explore the relationship between maternal anxiety and preschool children’s problem behaviors. Through literature retrieval and selection, in terms of the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis, 88 independent effect sizes (34 studies, 295,032 participants) were picked out as meta-analysis units. The test for heterogeneity illustrated that there was significant heterogeneity in 88 independent effect sizes, while the random effects model was an appropriate model for the subsequent meta-analysis. The publication bias test indicated that the impact of publication bias was modest but the major findings remained valid. In addition, in terms of the tentative review analysis and research hypotheses, the random effects model was used as a meta-analysis model. The research revealed that maternal anxiety was significantly positively correlated with preschool children’s internalizing problem behaviors, externalizing problem behaviors, and overall problem behaviors. The moderating effect analysis showed that region and gender of the child affected the relationship between maternal anxiety and children’s internalizing problem behaviors and externalizing problem behaviors, and region, child’s age and gender, mother’s age, and education level affected maternal anxiety and preschool children’s problems behavioral relationship. Hence, these results affirmed the role of maternal anxiety and emphasized the need to pay attention to the demographic characteristics and cultural background of the subjects during the research process and consider the generalizability of the conclusions under different circumstances.

Does sex influence perceived parental care and overprotection? A study from a Brazilian State sample

“…A recent Brazilian study reported that mothers presented similar educational and care strategies for boys and girls, although girls had presented more internalizing behavioral problems (e.g., anxiety and depression) than boys (Maia & Soares, 2018). It is suggested that mothers display more negative educational practices and anxiety when the child who exhibits behavioral problems is a girl than when it is a boy (Maia & Soares, 2018;Song et al, 2022). The combination of conflicts with parents experienced during adolescence and behavioral difficulties may negatively affect parenting, leading mothers and/or fathers to become more overprotective and express lower levels of care (Forresi et al, 2023).…”

Correlation between Vitamin B12 and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…We adopted the definition of behavioral problems by Chinese scholars, which tends to have the following viewpoints: behavioral problems are all abnormal behaviors that hinder individual and social development, involving externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems. The core point is that difficult adaptation behaviors produced in the process of socialization for children and adolescents [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Maternal child maltreatment and trajectories of offspring behavioural and emotional difficulties from age 4 to 7 years – results from a prospective birth cohort study

“…Interestingly, male sex of the child was associated with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression in mothers. Literature shows heterogeneous results for the interplay between maternal and child mental health and child sex [31,32]. However, when maternal CM is taken into account, a greater vulnerability for boys was shown before for the indirect effects of maternal CM via anxiety and depression [33].…”

“…Sex is known to signi cantly affect the development of psychopathology, as there are relevant gender differences regarding mental health problems [34]. Child sex is further suggested to moderate the effect of maternal and child mental health [32].…”