Effect of Anxiety Caused by COVID-19 in Parents with the Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support: A Case Study of Mashhad, Iran

Background: COVID-19 has had adverse effects on both physical and mental health. The increase in anxiety and stress caused by this disease has affected the well-being of parents and children. This study aimed to investigate anxiety related to COVID-19 in parents and its effects on children’s health, with perceived social support as a mediating factor, in the metropolis of Mashhad, northeastern Iran.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 in Mashhad, Iran. The study population comprised 435 individuals from families with children aged 5 to 18 years. Data were collected using the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 26.Results: The results showed that parental anxiety related to COVID-19 had a negative and significant relationship with both parents’ perceived social support (β=-0.220, P<0.001) and children’s health (β=-0.443, P<0.001). Additionally, the mediating role of social support in the relationship between parental anxietyand children’s health was significant (P<0.001).Conclusion: Strengthening social support—particularly through the expansion of school- and community-based psychosocial services and increasing parental awareness of its importance— reduces parental anxiety and indirectly enhances children’s physical and mental health. These interventions mitigate the transmission of stress from parents to children by fostering a supportive family environment and strengthening children’s psychological resilience. Therefore, integrating mental health support programs into schools and local community spaces is an indispensable component of child health policy in Mashhad, representing an effective and cost-efficient strategy for mitigating the long-term impacts of public health crises on future generations.