The role of child maltreatment and resilience in the association between caregiver anxiety and child anxiety: a longitudinal study

This study aimed to explore the development of child anxiety and examine multiple mediating roles of child maltreatment and resilience in the association between caregiver anxiety and child anxiety. The longitudinal study included 1595 preschool children and their caregivers in Anhui Province, China. Paired <i>t</i>-tests were employed to compare differences in child anxiety between the baseline and follow-up. Linear regression analyses were performed to explore predictive effects of individual and family factors on child anxiety, while path analyses were applied to analyze mediating effects. The results indicated that child anxiety decreased during the one year follow-up. Child sex, resilience, mother's education, caregiver anxiety and child maltreatment could longitudinally predict child anxiety. Child maltreatment and resilience not only independently mediated the association between caregiver anxiety and child anxiety but also played a chain-mediating effect. These results elucidated a complex mechanistic model involving both risk and protective factors, indicating that caregiver anxiety transmits its effects through increased maltreatment risk and diminished child resilience. Consequently, comprehensive intervention strategies should concurrently target the reduction of caregiver anxiety, prevention of maltreatment, and strengthen child resilience to effectively mitigate the development of anxiety in preschool children.