THE MEDIATORY ROLES OF ANXIETY SENSITIVITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED PARENTAL ATTITUDES AND TRAIT ANXIETY LEVELS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract This study examined the relationship between perceived parental attitudes (overprotective, rejecting, and emotionally warm) and trait anxiety in university students, along with the mediating roles of anxiety sensitivity and psychological resilience. A total of 385 undergraduate students (175 females, 210 males) from universities in Kocaeli and Istanbul, Turkey, participated and completed the Sociodemographic and Other Information Data Form, the Shortened Perceived Parental Attitudes Scale – Child Form, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, the Psychological Resilience Scale for Adults and Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory. Relationships between perceived parental attitudes, trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and psychological resilience were examined via Pearson correlation, and mediation roles were tested using simple regression. Path analyses revealed that: (a) Overprotective and rejecting parental attitudes were associated with higher trait anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, as well as lower psychological resilience, while emotionally warm parental attitudes predicted lower anxiety and greater resilience. (b) Psychological resilience completely mediated the link between emotional warmth and trait anxiety, while partially mediating the impact of overprotective attitudes. (c) Anxiety sensitivity partially mediated the relationship between both overprotective and emotionally warm parental attitudes and trait anxiety. (d) Higher anxiety sensitivity was linked to increased trait anxiety and reduced resilience. (e) Females perceived their mothers as warmer and more involved, while males viewed their fathers as more rejecting, due to traditional gender roles. (f) Similar psychological effects were observed for overprotective and emotionally warm attitudes from both parents, emphasizing the father's role in shaping children’s well-being. (g) Resilience improved with age, suggesting better stress management over time. Our findings highlight the need for interventions to reduce anxiety and enhance resilience in individuals with maladaptive parental attitudes.