Sowing the Seeds of Confidence: Brief Online Group Parenting Programme for Anxious Parents of 1-3 Year Olds

Brief Online Group Parenting Programme for Anxious Parents of 1-3 Year Olds With the Aim of Reducing Transmission of Anxiety Through Generations: A Feasibility Study

To pilot a brief group early intervention aimed at reducing or preventing the intergenerational transmission of anxiety, with parents whose child is between 12 and 47 months. To explore feasibility and acceptability of such an intervention with this population.

All participants will attend two group sessions of 'psychoeducation' (psychologically informed information about the topic of transmitting anxiety) and cognitive-behavioural strategies aimed at reducing the transmission of anxiety from parent to young child. The two sessions will be delivered online via Microsoft Teams, last 2 hours each and will run one week apart. Outcome and acceptability measures will be collected before, immediately after, and 6 weeks after the intervention. Feasibility data (e.g. drop-out rate) will be recorded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• current or recent (within 2 years) primary diagnosis of anxiety disorder or self-report of clinically impairing anxiety problem within last 2 years,
• parent of child aged 12-47 months at time of intervention,
• access to an internet connection and smart phone/computer will be required to take part,
• male or female,
• resident in England,
• and over the age of 18

Exclusion Criteria:

• current severe co-morbid diagnoses, e.g. psychosis or acute suicidal risk (as the nature of the intervention is brief and in a group, the level of support needed to keep those with severe mental health disorders safe will not be available),
• current alcohol or drugs misuse