Like parent, like child: Is parent interpretation bias associated with their child's interpretation bias and anxiety? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric problem across the lifespan, with typical onset during the pediatric period. Prior literature has examined cognitive mechanisms associated with youth anxiety and identified interpretation bias, the threatening appraisal of ambiguity, as a ubiquitous correlate and likely mechanism. A small set of studies have examined interpretation bias and anxiety in parent-child dyads, although results about this potential relationship are conflicted. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the association between parent interpretation bias with child interpretation bias and child anxiety. Methods: Eight studies met the rigorous inclusion criteria, which required direct assessment of interpretation bias in both youth and parent. Results: Meta-analysis with a random effects model indicated a small and significant correlation between parent and child interpretation biases (r = 0.14, p < .01), as well as a small and significant correlation between parent interpretation bias and child anxiety (r = = 0.20, p = .01). Limitations: As only eight studies were included in this meta-analysis, reflecting the state of the extant literature, it is possible that, as data accumulate and this work continues in the future, results may or may not be replicated. Conclusions: Despite variability in findings across the included empirical studies, the current meta-analysis suggests that a correlational relationship between parent interpretation bias and child bias/anxiety exists. This work has implications for conceptualizing parent interpretation bias as a possible explanatory mechanism underlying youth interpretation bias and anxiety.

Automated summary

There is a correlation between parent and child interpretation biases, as well as between parent interpretation bias and child anxiety. Despite varying findings across studies, parent interpretation bias may be a potential explanatory mechanism underlying youth interpretation bias and anxiety.