Partnership aims to prevent anxiety being passed from parents to children
PFA has initiated a research co-operation with the Centre for Anxiety to prevent children from developing anxiety if their parents suffer from the condition.
Can anxiety be prevented from being passed from parents to children?
This is the hope behind a new co-operation between PFA and the Centre for Anxiety at the University of Copenhagen.
Research shows that 60 per cent of children with parents who have anxiety will develop anxiety themselves. Through conversations and workshops, PFA aims to help parents change their thought and behaviour patterns to promote the confidence and wellbeing of their 6-12-year-old children.
“We want to provide parents who suffer from anxiety with concrete tools to reduce the risk of their child developing or maintaining anxiety,” says Rikke Bay Haaber, Head of Strategic Health at PFA.
From 2023 to 2024, the number of PFA customers with anxiety increased by 18 per cent, and last year PFA helped over 4,000 customers with anxiety.
The project is based on a British study that has shown documented effects. If the research project between PFA and the Centre for Anxiety also shows positive results, it will become a permanent offering for PFA’s customers.
5 recommendations for parents with anxiety:
1. Talk less about anxiety-provoking situations at home and avoid drawing your child's attention to potential dangers that trigger your own anxiety.
2. Show compassion when your child is overwhelmed by strong emotions: verbalise the feeling and listen. Feel free to help your child with problem-solving afterwards and remember that it is OK to set boundaries.
3. Be a good role model for how to face fears and/or involve others in this if you find it too difficult.
4. Gradually encourage your child to confront situations they fear but are not dangerous. Remember that your child's confidence will grow from this.
5. Praise your child (and yourself) when your child (or you) show courageous behaviour.
Source: Centre for Anxiety