New Delhi, Dec. 29 -- Families where achievement takes on an outsized role, leading children to wonder whether their parents' love was tied to how well they performed academically, is the most worrying parenting trend, according to an expert on CNBC.

This relentless pursuit of an achievement culture - better grades for better college degrees, which in turn promise a better future - breeds perfectionism in high-achieving kids. A CNBC report citing growing research said this perfectionism in high-achieving kids is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression.

To protect kids against this narrow view of success and self-worth, the expert suggested that parents help them anchor their efforts in something beyond themselves.

Everyday str...