RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Courageous Parents, Courageous Children

Anxiety can often start in childhood and affect people throughout their lives. Children with anxious parents who find new things difficult might be more likely to develop anxiety themselves. This study explores a new programme designed to help these families. It focuses on teaching parents with anxiety how to cope with their own feelings first. Then, it guides them on how to share these effective ways of dealing with worry with their children. The goal is to give children a strong start, so they can avoid anxiety disorders and live happy, healthy lives as adults. It aims to prevent anxiety problems before they become serious.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Nova Scotia Health Authority

Enrolment target

Start

17 Sep 2017

Estimated completion

01 Sep 2025

Anxiety Disorder

What is this study about?

Anxiety can often begin when we are young, and it can sometimes make it harder for people to do well at school or work later in life. We know that children who have a parent with anxiety, and who struggle with new situations, are more likely to develop anxiety themselves. Looking after a child in a way that helps them feel brave and calm ('anti-anxiety parenting') can be really helpful. However, it can be tough for parents to do this when they're dealing with their own anxiety.

This research project, called "Courageous Parents, Courageous Children," is testing a new programme. It's designed to stop anxiety from developing or continuing in children who are at a higher risk. The study will first help parents learn useful skills to manage their own worries and stress. Then, it will show them how to pass these skills on to their children, helping them to parent in a way that builds courage and reduces anxiety.

The main aim is to step in early in a child's life. By doing this, the researchers hope to help children grow up free from anxiety disorders, allowing them to lead fulfilling and happy lives. It’s all about giving families the tools they need to build confidence and calm.

Key takeaways

A study for parents with anxiety and their young children (2-8 years).
Aims to prevent anxiety in children by teaching parents new skills.
Parents learn to manage their own anxiety and then coach their children.
Focuses on practical skills and parenting techniques, not medicines.
Could help children lead happier, healthier lives free from anxiety disorders.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for parents and their young children. Parents must currently have an anxiety disorder themselves and have at least one child aged between two and eight years old in their care. You'll need to be able to understand and speak English well enough to take part in the programme and be able to give your consent to join the study.

Parents can't take part if they've recently had a lot of talking therapy (6 or more sessions) for mental health in the last year, or if they plan to move out of Nova Scotia within three years. Also, if you have certain other conditions like schizophrenia, autism, or a severe learning disability, or if you're currently struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, you won't be able to join. If your main problem is a mood disorder (like depression), you might need to get help for that first before re-considering.

For children to be eligible, they need to be between two and eight years old and show signs of being quite shy or easily upset in new situations. Children can't take part if they have conditions like schizophrenia, autism, a severe learning disability, or if they're currently receiving treatment specifically for anxiety.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Do you currently have an anxiety disorder?
Do you have a child between 2 and 8 years old?
Can you speak English well enough to understand and take part?
Have you had less than 6 sessions of talking therapy in the last year?
Are you able to live in Nova Scotia for the next three years?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you and your child will be involved in a new programme aimed at helping with anxiety. The study will first involve helping you, as a parent, learn skills to manage your own anxiety. You'll then be coached on how to share these skills with your child and how to parent in ways that help them feel less anxious.

The specific details of how many sessions, how long they last, and what type of assessments (like questionnaires or short activities) you and your child will do aren't fully described here. However, generally, studies like this involve regular meetings or sessions over a period to teach and practice the new skills. There won't be any new medicines involved. The overall duration is not specified but will involve learning and applying the new anti-anxiety parenting techniques.

Potential risks and benefits

Potential benefits of taking part include learning new ways to cope with your own anxiety, and gaining skills to help your child manage their emotions, potentially leading to fewer anxiety problems for them in the future. It's important to remember that this is a research study, so there's no guarantee the programme will work for everyone, though it aims to be helpful. Potential risks are generally low, but discussing personal anxieties might sometimes bring up uncomfortable feelings. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Nova Scotia Health
Verified postcode
Halifax, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'anti-anxiety parenting'?

It's about learning ways to help your child feel brave and calm, especially when they face new or challenging situations, rather than letting anxiety take over.

Will my child have to take any new medicines?

No, this study focuses on learning skills and new ways of parenting, not on using medicines.

How old do my children need to be to take part?

Your child or children need to be between two and eight years old.

What if I have anxiety, but also feel down sometimes?

If your main concern is feeling down (a mood disorder), you might be asked to get some help for that first. But having both anxiety and mood challenges doesn't automatically exclude you.

What if we decide we don't want to continue with the study?

You are free to leave the study at any time, for any reason, and it won't affect your medical care.

How to find out more

Barbara Pavlova, PhD DClinPsy RPsych

barbara.pavlova@dal.ca 902 473 2585 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.