The findings provide promising evidence that both paternal
and maternal challenging behaviour may hold a protective relationship
towards child anxiety. More broadly, this research also
addresses a call in recent years for greater attention to the role of
the father in the aetiology, maintenance, and prevention of child
anxiety disorders (Bögels and Phares, 2008). The findings of the
current study have implications not only for research but also for
the development of interventions for anxious children and their
parents. In a recent study, parents of anxious children identified
concerns regarding whether they should challenge their children's
behaviour and to what extent (Hiebert-Murphy et al., 2012).
Continuing research in this area may provide valuable feedback for
parents about optimal parenting strategies in the face of child
anxiety. Additionally, these findings may have implications for
cognitive behavioural treatments with anxious children. For example,
a parent may be more willing to encourage and model
brave behaviour to their child, especially during exposure sessions,
if there is sound empirical rationale for this behaviour.