Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychological problems in preschool children, and if not identified and treated early, they can persist into adulthood. Intergenerational research has shown that mothers' adverse childhood experiences are associated with an increased risk of anxiety in children; however, the mechanisms underlying the transmission of these effects are not yet fully understood. The present study aims to predict child anxiety based on mothers' adverse childhood experiences, with maternal caregiving quality and emotion socialization serving as mediators.

This study is applied in terms of purpose and correlational using structural equation modeling in terms of method. The statistical population consists of mothers of preschool children attending kindergartens and preschool centers in Shiraz in the year 2026. The sampling method will be non-random and convenience-based. Data collection instruments include the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Maternal Caregiving Quality Scale, the Coping with Children's Negative Emotions Scale (CCNES), and the Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 27 and AMOS version 26.

The results of this study can help break the intergenerational cycle of anxiety by identifying modifiable mechanisms and informing the design of preventive interventions for mothers with a history of adverse childhood experiences.