Anxiety often runs in families. Children of parents with anxiety face a significantly higher risk of developing anxiety disorders themselves.

Previous studies show that parent guidance can reduce this risk—through clearer boundaries, stronger support, and less avoidance.

Evidence gap

What is the effect of parent-focused interventions on children’s and adolescents’ mental health?

What were the knowledge gaps?

• Can these interventions work digitally—without therapists?
• Can we reach parents who would not otherwise seek help?
• What determines whether the intervention actually works (engagement, usage, completion)?

Where does the project fit in?
The project builds on a proven group-based intervention—and tests whether it can be scaled into a low-threshold digital solution with broader reach.

Executive summary

The study examined whether a brief, web-based intervention for parents with anxiety can help prevent anxiety in their children. The research is grounded in a key challenge: many parents with anxiety do not receive support, leaving their children at increased risk of developing mental health difficulties themselves.

The study was conducted as a large randomized controlled trial. Some parents were given access to a digital program, while others did not receive any intervention. Mental health outcomes were measured over time in both parents and children.

The results show that the intervention is effective. Children of parents who were given access to the program reported lower levels of anxiety and depression. At the same time, parents themselves experienced reduced anxiety. The effects were most pronounced among those who actively engaged with the program.

The findings suggest that a simple, accessible digital intervention can make a meaningful difference—and help break intergenerational patterns. At the same time, the approach has the potential to reach large numbers of people at a relatively low cost.

Method

The study used a quantitative design and was carried out as a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The sample included parents with high levels of anxiety and their children, who were at increased risk of developing anxiety themselves.

Data was collected through:

• digital questionnaires
• parent reports on their own and their children’s mental health
• usage data from the intervention (engagement)

The analyses included:

• comparisons between the intervention group and the control group
• examinations of the link between usage and outcomes

The study does have some important limitations. Use of the intervention varied, and around 25% did not use it at all. In addition, the data is based on self-reporting.

Overall, this means that the effect largely depends on whether the intervention is actually used and followed through.

Results

Main finding: Parents can prevent anxiety in their children—digitally

Children of parents who were given access to the intervention showed lower levels of anxiety and depression than those in the control group. At the same time, parents reported reduced anxiety themselves.

The effect was clearly linked to usage. Around 25% of parents did not use the program at all, while those who completed it achieved results comparable to traditional therapy. Overall, the findings show a clear pattern: the more the program was used, the greater the effect.

Engagement is directly tied to outcomes—from little or no effect with no use, to results on par with therapy when completed.

Secondary findings:

The digital intervention is low-threshold and highly scalable:

• can be used anytime, anywhere
• does not require a therapist
  → lowers barriers to seeking help

The findings also show that parent behaviour is key to the effect:

• changes in how parents respond to children’s fears make a difference
• less avoidance is linked to better coping in the child

The study confirms that digital solutions can work—but only if they are used:

• the technology itself is not the main challenge
• the key is driving engagement

Taken together, the results point to significant potential at a societal level:

• low cost per family
• ability to reach large numbers, including outside traditional health services

Conclusion

The findings show that it is possible to prevent anxiety in children by supporting their parents—and that this can be done in a simple, digital format without the need for clinical follow-up. The study demonstrates that digital prevention can be effective, while also showing how to reach parents who might otherwise not receive support. It also highlights the crucial role parents play in shaping children’s mental health.

For practitioners, the results point toward using low-threshold digital solutions, ideally combined with simple measures that boost completion—such as reminders and ongoing support. For decision-makers, the findings underline that investing in prevention can reduce future healthcare costs, and that scalable solutions offer strong value over time.

Further research

Future research should focus in particular on how to increase engagement and actual use of digital interventions, as the effect largely depends on this. There is also a need for more knowledge on how these types of interventions can best be integrated into existing health services, for example as part of programmes like “Talking Therapies.” In addition, long-term effects should be explored to understand whether these interventions lead to lasting improvements in children’s mental health over time.