Perceived Intrafamilial Connectedness and Autonomy in Families With and Without an Anxious Family Member: A Multiple Informant Approach

Abstract

Perceived intrafamilial “emotional connectedness” and “autonomy” were investigated within families with and without an anxious family member using a multiple informant approach. The sample consisted of 32 mothers with a current anxiety disorder and 56 controls, their partners, and their anxious and nonanxious teenage children. No differences were found with respect to the perceived family relationships of family members with versus without anxious mothers. However, compared with nonanxious adolescents, anxious adolescents perceived less autonomy in relation to both parents. Mothers of anxious adolescents also perceived their children to be less autonomous toward them and their partners, than mothers of nonanxious adolescents. In contrast with “autonomy,” “emotional connectedness” was not reported to be different between families with and without an anxious adolescent. Agreement among family members and the importance of perceived individual autonomy in the development of anxiety are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• autonomy
• child anxiety
• emotional connectedness
• family relationships
• maternal anxiety
• parenting

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the German Ministry of Science, Research and Education DLR grant 01 EG 9731/4 and is part of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), Swiss Etiological Study of Adjustment and Mental Health (SESAM), funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF; project no. 51A240-104890). The study received ethical permission from the German Association of Psychology.

Notes

Note. AD = anxiety disorder.

^a Mean and standard deviation.

^b t = computed value of t test.

^a Mean and standard deviation.

^b  t = computed value of t test.

Note. C = child; M = mother; F = father; η² = eta-squared (effect size value).

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note. AD = anxiety disorder; C = child; M = mother; F = father.

*p < .05. **p > .01. ***p < .001.

Note. AD = anxiety disorder; C = child; M = mother; F = father.

*p < .05. **p > .01. ***p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jiske E. G. de Albuquerque

Jiske E. G. de Albuquerque is now at University of Lausanne, and Silvia Schneider at University of Bochum.