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. 2022 Oct;53(5):1047-1061.
doi: 10.1007/s10578-021-01190-x. Epub 2021 May 19.

Frequency and Correlates of Fathers' Accommodation in Pediatric Anxiety Disorders

Ena Alcan  1 , Tess Anderson  2 , Eli R Lebowitz  2
Affiliations

Frequency and Correlates of Fathers' Accommodation in Pediatric Anxiety Disorders

Ena Alcan et al. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Previous studies investigating family accommodation (FA) in pediatric anxiety disorders have primarily relied on mothers' reports, while data on FA by fathers remains scarce. We examined the frequency and correlates of fathers' FA of anxious children and compared fathers' and mothers' reports of FA. Participants were 69 parents of treatment-seeking children and adolescents with a primary anxiety disorder. FA was highly prevalent amongst fathers, with the majority of fathers participating in symptom-related behaviors and modifying family routines due to child anxiety. Fathers' accommodation levels were significantly correlated with fathers' reports of child internalizing symptoms, child externalizing symptoms, and fathers' own anxiety symptoms. Fathers' and mothers' reports of FA were moderately correlated, whereas their reports of their respective distress related to the need to accommodate were only weakly correlated. Fathers reported a significantly lower frequency of FA than did mothers. These findings highlight the importance of obtaining reports from both fathers and mothers when assessing FA. Results are particularly relevant to family-focused and parent-based interventions designed to address and reduce FA amongst parents of clinically anxious children.

Keywords: Accommodation; Anxiety disorders; Family; Fathers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Lebowitz has received research grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (Grant No. 1R61MH115113-01A1 and No. K23MH103555). Ms. Alcan and Ms. Anderson declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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