Childhood exposure to parental threatening behaviors and anxiety in emerging adulthood: Indirect effects of perceived stress

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundAlthough childhood exposure to parental threatening behaviors is associated with elevated anxiety in emerging adulthood, the underlying mechanisms remain unexplored. Perceived stress—a subjective experience comprised of feelings of helplessness (being unable to cope or exert control) and poor self‐efficacy (confidence in one's ability to manage stressors)—is one candidate mechanism. The present investigation examined the underlying role of perceived stress in the association between childhood exposure to parental threatening behaviors and anxiety symptom severity in a sample of emerging adults.MethodsParticipants (N = 855; Mage = 18.75 years, SD = 1.05, range 18−24; 70.8% female) were recruited from a large state university and administered a battery of self‐report questionnaires assessing constructs of interest.ResultsStructural equation modeling (SEM) analyses indicated that only greater childhood exposure to maternal threatening behaviors was directly associated with greater feelings of helplessness and lower self‐efficacy. Furthermore, only childhood exposure to maternal threatening behaviors was indirectly associated with anxiety severity through greater feelings of helplessness and lower self‐efficacy. In contrast, childhood exposure to paternal threatening behaviors was neither directly nor indirectly associated with anxiety severity.LimitationsLimitations include a cross‐sectional design, use of self‐report measures, and a nonclinical sample. Replicating these findings in a clinical sample and testing the hypothesized model in a longitudinal design is necessary.ConclusionsFindings underscore the need for intervention efforts that screen for and target perceived stress in emerging adults exposed to negative maternal parenting behaviors.