Journal of Clinical Care and Skills

Aims:Healthcare workers are exposed to high levels of occupational stress, which may extend beyond the workplace and affect their family functioning. Such stress can place children of healthcare workers at greater risk for emotional and anxiety-related disorders.The present study aimed to compare anxiety disorders in children with and without parents employed in the healthcare sector.

Materials & Methods: This study employed a descriptive, causal-comparative design. The study population consisted of children living in Rasht in 2025 (Iranian year 1404), with and without a parent working in the healthcare sector. A total of 60 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED; Birmaher et al., 1997). Data analysis was conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with SPSS version 27.

Finding: The findings revealed that the total anxiety scores of children with healthcare worker parents were significantly higher than those of children whose parents were not employed in the healthcare sector (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results suggest that occupational stress experienced by healthcare workers may contribute to increased stress levels and a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders in their children. These findings highlight the importance of considering family-centered preventive and supportive interventions for healthcare professionals.