Exploring the Hidden Dimensions of Chronic Shame in Adolescents with Performance Anxiety: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore intergenerational narratives of family anxiety among adults in Tehran and to identify the mechanisms of transmission and reconstruction of anxiety within family relationships. This research employed a qualitative approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 participants residing in Tehran. Participants were selected via purposive sampling with maximum diversity. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Data were analyzed using NVivo software and a thematic coding approach, including open coding, subtheme development, and main theme identification. Three main themes emerged from the data analysis: "experiential transmission of anxiety across generations," "anxiety as a familial legacy," and "reconstructing the meaning of anxiety in the new generation." The narratives revealed that anxiety is often transmitted through family silence, unconscious roles, and modeled behavioral patterns. Moreover, the younger generation attempts to redefine anxiety through external support, intergenerational dialogue, and psychological boundary-setting with the previous generation. Family anxiety is transmitted not only as a psychological condition but also in meaningful, cultural, and structural forms. Analyzing intergenerational narratives provides deeper insights into the hidden mechanisms of familial anxiety and can inform narrative-based psychological and educational interventions.