The Influence of Harsh Parenting on Adolescent Anxiety: The Sequential Mediating Roles of Interpersonal Sensitivity and Ego-Depletion

Abstract

Harsh parenting, characterized by punitive and controlling behaviors, has been increasingly linked to the development of anxiety disorders in adolescents. This study explores the mechanisms through which harsh parenting contributes to adolescent anxiety, focusing on the sequential mediation of Interpersonal Sensitivity (IS) and ego depletion. Drawing on the Emotion Dysregulation Model of Anxiety (EDMA), we propose that harsh parenting disrupts emotional regulation by fostering heightened IS, which, in turn, depletes self-control resources, exacerbating anxiety. Using a chain mediation model, we hypothesize that (1) harsh parenting positively correlates with adolescent IS, (2) ego depletion mediates the relationship between harsh parenting and anxiety, and (3) IS and ego depletion sequentially mediate this relationship. By examining these interconnected pathways, the study aims to provide insights into the underlying processes contributing to adolescent anxiety and offer valuable directions for early interventions aimed at improving mental health outcomes in adolescents.