Psychologists and researchers will soon question whether rough and tumble play between fathers and their children can prevent anxiety disorders in a new study by Australia’s leading support, treatment and research facility for anxiety and emotional disorders, the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University.

Researchers are calling for 350 fathers of children aged between four and 12 years to take part in the study, which is one of the first studies of its kind to consider the relationship between a father’s role and temperament and mental health (anxiety disorders) in children.

The study follows a number of recent research projects by the Centre for Emotional Health which studied the role of mothers in the development of anxiety in children and which found that overprotective mothering can significantly increase a child’s tendency towards anxiety disorders.

This new project will examine father’s challenging behaviours such as rough and tumble play, and how they relate to childhood anxiety, to parents’ psychological wellbeing and how they are reported by both mothers and fathers. It is hoped that the research will identify a clear role for fathers in developing healthy emotion regulation.

According to Centre for Emotional Health Assistant Director, Associate Professor Jennifer Hudson, developmentally a child benefits from some risk-taking as it teaches confidence. If exposure to small risks, such as rough and tumble play with Dad, is limited by social factors (such as divorce, longer working hours for the primary earner who in this day and age is often still the father) this may increase a child’s tendency to anxiety led by lack of confidence later in life.

“A great deal is now known on what overprotective parenting can do to increase anxiety in children, however, little research has been done in Australia or abroad to consider what exposure to safe risks, such a physical rough play in controlled measures by a parent or guardian, can do to foster confidence in children,” Hudson said.

“The assumptions we have about the role of play will finally be adequately tested in this new study.”

Fathers and children who participate in the study will be asked to complete 3 questionnaires online. Questionnaires can be completed by mothers and fathers of children aged 4 to 12 years by simply logging on to the following URL: https://macquariehs.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_aYnGAY2DNaSGqJm

Participation will take about 20 minutes and all participants will be given the opportunity to enter a draw to win an Apple iPad 2.

Parents who would like to take part in the study can contact researcher Lianne Kady from Macquarie University on 0416 033 775 or email (lianne [dot] kady [at] students [dot] mq [dot] edu [dot] au).

About Centre for Emotional Health
The Centre for Emotional Health (CEH) is Australia’s foremost anxiety and emotional disorder support, treatment and research hub, continually improving treatments for children and adults who live with anxiety. The only one of its kind in Australia, the Centre’s Emotional Health Clinic delivers tailored treatment and support programs for children, families and adults living with anxiety, depression and associated mental health problems, as well as practical training for health care workers, psychologists and school counselors. The CEH and its team of researchers also lead cutting-edge research programs into the causes and treatment for anxiety, stress, depression and mental health disorders. The CEH is located at Macquarie University’s Department of Psychology and is led by internationally renowned Professor Ron Rapee. www.centreforemotionalhealth.com.au

For more information please contact:
Kristy Gordon
Access Public Relations
02 9292 7004 / 0407 780 635
kristy [at] accesspr [dot] com [dot] au

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