The relationship between parenting styles and children’s social anxiety: A review of the literature

Social anxiety typically occurs between mid-childhood and early adolescence and it is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. In particular, the relationship between parents and children plays a key role. This review identified some factors associated with the onset of social anxiety, such as the perception of insecure attachment to the father, parental criticism and negative affect, parental social anxiety and other forms of psychopathology, the perception of overprotection, withdrawal and absence of warmth from parents, dysfunctional family functioning, complications at birth or serious health problems of the baby during her/his first years of life. However, significant distinctions must be made, based on whether certain behaviours are carried out by the mother or father and on the extent of filial social anxiety. The mutual influence of parents and children on the development of filial social anxiety will be discussed, providing information for the prevention and treatment of social anxiety disorder.