Stressed parents not only are harming themselves but also their children, BBC News reports.
A University of Rochester study highlighted in New Scientist says that children are more prone to sickness if their parents are anxious or depressed.
The study, led by Dr. Mary Caserta, looked at the parents of 169 children over three years.
The parents, who underwent psychiatric evaluations every six months during the study, recorded when the children became sick.
The parents who had more "emotional stress" recorded more illnesses for their children and tests revealed the children had lower immune systems.
Click here to comment on this story.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox