Vulnerability factors in the anxiety disorders

Groups of non-clinical individuals scoring high and low on a measure of trait anxiety were compared to a group of people with a history of clinical anxiety on measures of locus of control of behaviour and reported parental rearing practices (group size = 30 in each group). The Parental Bonding instrument (Parker, Tulping & Brown, 1979) was used to assess parental overprotection and care. A scale relating to parental sensitization was also used in this study. Ir was hypothesized that the high-trait anxiety group would produce similar results to the anxiety-disorder group on locus of control and parental overprotection, and similar results to the low-trait anxiety group on parental care and parental sensitization. The hypotheses were, in most cases, supported and a relationship between trait anxiety and parental overprotection was suggested. The results also suggested that parental sensitization may be particular to anxiety disorders.