A surge in anxiety among children and teens has surprised many health professionals in recent years. In the UK, mental health referrals for youth anxiety more than doubled since 2019, rising from about 99,000 to over 204,000 cases annually. This trend underscores a broader reality: children’s anxiety often triggers or worsens distress in their parents, creating a ripple effect through families. Emerging studies suggest that addressing childhood anxiety requires also tending to parental well-being.
Thai readers will find this especially relevant. Rapid social change, strong academic expectations, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 era are contributing to rising mental health concerns among both children and parents. In Thai culture, family harmony and parental guidance are central, making the impact of a child’s anxiety felt across the entire household. When a child struggles, parents’ confidence, energy, and relationships can suffer, highlighting the need for family-sensitive approaches to care.
A regional insight from a UK survey shows 41% of parents observed increased anxiety in their children since the pandemic began, and nearly a quarter reported a decline in their own mental health. This two-way dynamic—child anxiety affecting parents, and parental distress shaping child outcomes—gains support from research across the United States and Europe, where everyday household stressors also elevate anxiety risks for both generations.
A key study published in 2021 in Developmental Psychobiology found that everyday home stress—such as job loss, parental disagreements, and financial pressures—predicted higher anxiety and behavioral problems in children aged 2-6. Crucially, the link was largely mediated by the parents’ own anxiety rather than the direct impact of the stressful event on the child. In short, anxious parents transmit signals to their children through emotional cues, routines, and even biological processes.
This research also highlights that adult-centered stressors—like changes in a parent’s job or health problems—are stronger predictors of child anxiety than events aimed at the child. Parents often underestimate how their own suffering shapes their kids’ emotional health. As Dr. Nim Tottenham of Columbia University notes, anxious parents act as “critical translators of household stress.” Children pick up on nonverbal signals, and even subtle mood shifts can influence their anxiety levels. The study measured evening cortisol in children and found higher levels when parents reported more anxiety, indicating a mind-body transmission.
The parent-child feedback loop can become self-reinforcing. A anxious child may resist school or worry about friendships, causing parental concern or frustration. This strain can erode patience and resilience, making calm, constructive support harder. Over time, families may fall into a cycle of escalating anxiety, conflict, exhaustion, and guilt.
In Thailand, these findings carry particular weight. Cultural emphasis on parental authority and private family life can make it harder to acknowledge personal vulnerability or seek help. Many Thai parents see themselves as emotional anchors for the family. Admitting overwhelm can feel like a personal failure or threaten family reputation. Yet research shows that tending to parental well-being is a protective factor for children, not a sign of weakness.
The implications for Thai families and schools are clear. When educators notice a student’s anxiety, it helps to consider the family’s overall stress and whether parents may also need support. A clinical psychologist from a well-known child health center notes that sometimes helping the parent is the most effective way to assist the child. When parents feel more in control and less stressed, children often improve more quickly.
This perspective is guiding new approaches to care abroad. Family-centered interventions, where therapists work with both children and parents, are gaining traction. Programs teach parents relaxation techniques, cognitive restructuring, and healthy boundary-setting. Trials show that when parents learn these skills, children’s symptoms can lessen—sometimes without direct child-focused therapy. In the UK and Australia, school mental health and pediatric clinics increasingly incorporate parent-focused modules to emphasize family well-being as a shared responsibility.
Closer to home, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Education have expanded online counseling and psychoeducation for parents, especially through schools, a move reinforced by post-pandemic efforts. Challenges remain, particularly in rural areas and among families less familiar with modern mental health concepts.
Practical recommendations for Thai families, teachers, and health workers include:
- Acknowledge parental anxiety as a normal response to a child’s worries, and actively manage it through mindfulness, breathing exercises, or light physical activity. Buddhist practices of awareness and self-regulation align well with modern strategies.
- Talk openly with trusted family or friends about parental stress to prevent bottling up emotions at home.
- Seek family-based support when a child’s anxiety persists, rather than focusing solely on the child. Group parenting programs, counseling hotlines, or school mental health staff can help.
- Maintain structure and routine at home to reassure both parents and children, especially during times of uncertainty.
- Advocate for school-based mental health education that involves parents and promotes collaboration among teachers, counselors, and families.
Looking ahead, analysts anticipate that anxiety rates in both children and parents may stay elevated as society continues to navigate post-pandemic pressures. The encouraging news is that both child and parental anxiety are treatable, and early intervention yields strong outcomes. The World Health Organization notes that with appropriate support, more than 70% of people with anxiety recover and regain a good quality of life.
For Thai readers seeking help, reliable sources include government health departments, school counselors, and community health centers. Remember, prioritizing your own mental health is a gift to your children and family. An investment in parental well-being is an investment in the future happiness of the whole family.
If you’d like more information, consider these points at a glance:
- Acknowledge and manage parental anxiety as part of supporting a anxious child
- Encourage open conversations within the family
- Utilize school and community-based resources for family-focused support
- Keep routines stable and predictable at home
- Push for inclusive school mental health programs that involve parents