Pang, L.L.PangKoh, Yvaine Yee WoenYvaine Yee WoenKohProf. TANG So Kum, CatherineCatherineProf. TANG So KumChen, L.L.ChenYeung, Y.Y.Yeung2021-11-222021-11-222020Pang, L., Koh, Y. Y. W., Tang, S. K., Chen, L., Yeung, Y. (26-29 Mar 2020). The associations between parental anxiety and early parenting behavior at six weeks postpartum. ACP2020, Online.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11861/6759https://papers.iafor.org/submission56092/The present study investigated the influence of parents’ anxiety on their parenting behaviour towards their newborn infants. Five types of parenting behaviour were examined, namely, discipline, parent-led routine, apprehension, nurturance, and involvement. A total of 635 participants (350 mothers, 285 fathers) were recruited at six weeks postpartum from a regional hospital in Singapore. According to the cut-off score of ≥ 8 on a standardized anxiety scale, the prevalence of probable anxiety disorder (PAD) was 14.6% (15.5% for mothers, 13.5% for fathers). A 2 (gender: mothers vs fathers) x 2 (anxiety: PAD vs no-PAD) x 5 (parenting behaviour) analysis of variance with repeated measures on parenting behaviour was conducted. A significant gender x anxiety 2-way interaction effect was found. Among the PAD group, mothers reported more parent-led routine parenting behaviour, as compared to fathers. Among the no-PAD group, mothers reported less discipline parenting behaviour, as compared to fathers. Mothers in the PAD group reported more nurturance parenting behaviour, as compared to mothers in the no-PAD group. Participants in the PAD group reported more apprehension and involvement parenting behaviour, as compared to participants in the no-PAD group. These findings highlight the importance of including anxiety management programs in postnatal classes and parent support groups. There is a need for longitudinal follow-up studies to assess the long-term impact of anxiety on parenting behaviour and child development.enConference Paper