Supporting Children with Social Anxiety: Effective Strategies for Parents

Social anxiety is a common challenge faced by adolescents, manifesting as feelings of nervousness or shyness in social settings. Recent research from the University of Georgia emphasizes the significant role parents play in either alleviating or exacerbating these symptoms. Both mothers and fathers influence their children's social confidence through their behaviors and attitudes, but in distinct ways.

Parents can help reduce social anxiety by consistently showing affection, warmth, and acceptance towards their teens. These positive interactions foster a sense of security and confidence. Conversely, behaviors such as shaming, guilt-tripping, and excessive control can increase the likelihood of social anxiety symptoms.

The study reveals that the impact of parenting varies between mothers and fathers. Overly controlling mothers tend to have a more pronounced effect on increasing social anxiety than overbearing fathers. This may be partly because mothers often undertake a larger share of child-rearing responsibilities, making their controlling behaviors more influential. Nevertheless, supportive and engaged fathers also contribute significantly to a child's social well-being.

It's important to recognize that adolescence is a peak period for social anxiety development, which can range from occasional shyness to severe anxiety disorders. Even mild social anxiety can affect a young person's overall development and mental health.

Parental warmth and acceptance have been shown across cultures and age groups to be associated with fewer social anxiety symptoms. Conversely, rejection and emotional coldness correlate with higher anxiety levels.

While setting limits is a part of healthy parenting, overly strict or controlling tactics—such as guilt-tripping, unrealistic expectations, or overprotectiveness—may worsen social anxiety. The research suggests that finding a balanced approach is crucial. Parents should aim to provide appropriate boundaries that support autonomy while offering guidance and structure.

Overcontrolling behaviors hinder a child's ability to learn self-regulation and develop necessary social and cognitive skills to navigate social environments confidently. Therefore, parents must regularly assess the level of control they exercise and ensure it supports healthy independence.

This research highlights the nuanced ways parental behaviors influence adolescent social anxiety and underscores the importance of fostering a supportive, balanced parenting style to promote mental well-being.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-child-social-anxiety.html