Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 30% of adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.
With anxiety being so prevalent, many people wonder if anxiety can be passed from parent to child. There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings surrounding this topic, so let’s take a closer look at what the research says.
The Genetic Link
There does appear to be a genetic component to anxiety disorders. Studies of twins have found that identical twins, who share 100% of their DNA, are more likely to both have anxiety compared to non-identical twins, who only share around 50% of their DNA.
This suggests that genetics do play a role. However, it’s not usually as simple as a single “anxiety gene” being passed down. Rather, a complex interaction of multiple genes is likely involved. Each gene variant probably only has a small influence on risk.
Specific genes that have been implicated include:
- SERT – regulates serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood
- COMT – involved in dopamine, another important neurotransmitter
- BDNF – regulates neuron growth and development
So in short, parents may pass down a genetic vulnerability or predisposition to anxiety. But genes alone don’t tell the whole story.
Environmental Factors Also Play a Role
Genes only account for about 30-40% of someone’s risk of developing anxiety. The remaining 60-70% comes down to environmental influences.
There are several environmental risk factors that could be passed from anxious parents to their children:
- Modeling – Children learn by observing their parents’ behaviors. Anxious parents may inadvertently model avoidance, nervousness, or fear.
- Parenting practices – Highly anxious parents tend to be more controlling and overprotective. This prevents children from developing autonomy and coping skills.
- Attachment – Anxious parents may have trouble forming secure attachments with their children.
- Stress reactivity – Growing up in a stressful household with anxious parents can alter children’s stress response systems.
In essence, parents don’t directly pass on anxiety, but their own anxiety might shape aspects of their children’s environment that increase risk.
The Vicious Cycle of Generational Anxiety
There tends to be a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle when anxiety runs in a family. It often plays out like this:
- The parent experiences chronic anxiety.
- The parent’s anxiety influences how they interact with and parent their child.
- These parenting practices increase the child’s likelihood of developing anxiety.
- The now-anxious child grows up and has their own children, starting the cycle again.
Breaking this cycle requires intervention at multiple points. Treating parents’ anxiety is important. But teaching them parenting techniques to limit the impact on their children is also necessary.
The Impact of Trauma
Experiencing or witnessing trauma is another environmental factor that can dramatically raise anxiety risk. And like other environmental influences, trauma can be passed from parent to child.
For example, if a parent went through a traumatic event, the child may experience secondary trauma just from seeing their parent struggle. The impact of the trauma can reverberate through generations.
Epigenetics may also play a role here. Essentially, trauma can alter gene expression – turning certain genes “on” or “off.” And some of these epigenetic changes can be inherited, potentially programming a child to have heightened stress reactivity.
Can Anxiety Be Prevented from Passing Between Generations?
Given the potential genetic and environmental mechanisms, anxiety can definitely be passed down through families. However, this does not have to be the case. There are things both parents and children can do to lower anxiety risk:
- Parents should seek treatment for their own anxiety through therapy and other evidence-based methods. This reduces the environmental impact on children.
- Parents can learn parenting techniques focused on promoting independence, building coping skills, and modeling emotional regulation in children.
- Children may benefit from anxiety prevention programs and training in stress management/coping skills.
- Families with a history of trauma should focus on healing and breaking destructive cycles. Therapy can help with this.
While genetics cannot be changed, environment and behavior can. With vigilance, parents can limit the passage of anxiety to future generations.
The Takeaway
Anxiety tends to run in families, a combination of genetic risks and shared environment. Anxious parents may model behaviors or use parenting styles that inadvertently promote anxiety in their children. Trauma can also echo through generations.
Fortunately, there are many protective steps parents and children can take to cut the cycle of generational anxiety. Seeking treatment, using positive parenting techniques, learning healthy coping skills, and healing trauma are all important.
With work, it is absolutely possible to foster resilience and wellbeing, even in the face of a family history of anxiety.
| Gene | Function | Association with Anxiety |
|---|---|---|
| SERT | Regulates serotonin | Serotonin influences mood |
| COMT | Involved in dopamine | Dopamine also affects mood |
| BDNF | Neuron growth and development | May influence development of emotion regulation |
Environmental Factors That Increase a Child’s Anxiety Risk
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Modeling | Children observe and replicate parents’ anxious behavior |
| Parenting practices | Anxious parents tend to be overprotective and controlling |
| Attachment | Anxious parents may struggle with secure bonds |
| Stress reactivity | Growing up in a stressed household alters children’s stress response |
Steps to Prevent Passing Down Anxiety
| For Parents | For Children |
|---|---|
| Seek treatment for own anxiety | Participate in prevention programs |
| Use positive parenting techniques | Learn healthy coping skills |
| Model emotional regulation | Consider therapy as needed |
| Promote child independence | Practice stress management |
Conclusion
To summarize, anxiety often runs in families due to a combination of genetic risks and environmental factors. Anxious parents may inadvertently model anxious behavior, use parenting styles that contribute to anxiety, or expose children to trauma and stress. However, there are many ways parents and children can disrupt this cycle and foster resilience instead. With vigilance, it is possible to prevent anxiety from being passed down through generations.