Experiential avoidance in the parenting of anxious youth: Theory, research, and future directions

Abstract

Empirical findings support the notion that overprotective and intrusive parenting practices may contribute to the maintenance of anxiety in youth (e.g., Ginsburg & Schlossberg, 2002). It appears that parents of anxious youth are more likely to intervene during anxiety-provoking situations for their child when he/she displays negative emotion or distress (e.g., Hudson, Comer, & Kendall, 2008). It remains unclear, however, why anxious children's displays of negative emotion are difficult for parents to tolerate. One possible explanation is that parents of anxious youth are more likely to engage in experiential avoidance, the inability or unwillingness to tolerate one's own internal distress, which manifests as intrusive behaviour designed to reduce the child's distress, and thereby the parent's own internal distress. This article reviews the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of experiential avoidance, describes its potential role in the parenting of anxious children, and discusses implications for treatment and future directions for research.

Acknowledgements

Preparation of this manuscript was facilitated by research grant awards from the National Institute of Mental Health to PCK (MH59087; MH63747).

The authors would like to thank Dr Laurie A. Greco for her valuable contributions to the preparation of this manuscript.