Publication date: Apr 2021
What is already known about this subject:
- Globally, few studies have assessed the risk of anxiety symptoms in the young adult offspring of parents with mental health problems. Most of the available studies assessed the risk in children and adolescents and there is limited research on the risk of developing anxiety symptoms in young adult offspring.
- A better understanding of whether or not an increased risk of anxiety in offspring of parents with mental health problems extend into young adulthood is vital to better understand the impacts of those parental mental health problems on young adult offspring as well as to take appropriate early prevention and intervention strategies.
- In addition, the available studies were conducted in the USA and Europe but there are no previous studies in Australia regarding this subject. The majority of the studies assessed the risk with maternal mental health exposure and only a few studies assessed the risk with paternal exposure. To address this gap in research, this study will investigate the associations of maternal and paternal mental health problems (Gen 1) with offspring anxiety at age 20 years (Gen 2).
What this study adds
- Parents with mental health problems may be at high risk of having an offspring with anxiety symptoms at age 20. However, there is limited research on this topic. The aim of the study was to assess mental health problems in parent (Gen 1) and anxiety symptoms in their young adult offspring (Gen 2).
- The study used data from the Raine Study. Maternal anxiety and depression were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) whereas paternal emotional problems were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire (lifetime exposure). Both maternal mental health problems (anxiety and depression) and paternal emotional problems (lifetime exposure) were assessed at year 10 follow-ups. A short form of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21) was used to assess anxiety symptoms among offspring at age 20.
- There is an increased risk of anxiety symptoms in the young adult offspring (at age 20) of mothers with anxiety as well as fathers with emotional problems. These findings are important in helping to understand the impact of parental mental health problems on the emotional development of the offspring including the risk of anxiety and potential applications of targeted early screening and prevention strategies for those children at risk.