Journal of Clinical Care and Skills

Aims: Healthcare professionals are exposed to highly stressful work environments and face numerous occupational challenges, which may adversely affect their family life. Parental occupational stress can influence children’s psychological well-being; however, limited research has specifically examined anxiety disorders among children of healthcare workers. This study aimed to compare anxiety disorders in children with and without a parent employed in the healthcare sector.
Materials & Methods: This causal-comparative study was performed on children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years living in Rasht, Iran, in 2025, with and without a parent employed in the healthcare sector. Using purposive sampling, 60 participants were selected, including 30 children with a healthcare worker parent and 30 children whose parents were employed in non-healthcare occupations. Data were collected using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders. Data analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance with SPSS 27.
Findings: Children with a parent employed in the healthcare sector showed significantly higher anxiety levels than children without such a parent. Specifically, total anxiety was higher (61.83±1.38 vs. 32.47±1.43; p<0.001), as were separation anxiety (13.08±0.45 vs. 8.49±1.06; p<0.05), generalized anxiety (15.73±0.71 vs. 10.01±0.67; p<0.001), and panic/somatic symptoms (19.71±1.37 vs. 11.24±0.87; p<0.001). In contrast, social anxiety and school phobia did not differ significantly between groups (both p>0.05). Overall, there was a between-group association between having a healthcare-employed parent and higher anxiety symptom severity.
Conclusion: Children of healthcare workers experience higher levels of anxiety disorders compared to their peers.