New research shows that kids today are more stressed than previous generations, with over one-third (37%) of children aged 9-13 worrying at least once a week, according to a national poll of 504 US adolescents. The top sources of concern among this age group are school and friendships, according to Nemours KidsHealth’s What’s Worrying America’s Kids survey.
Inclination to worrying increases with age
It is worth noting that the inclination towards being worried seems to increase gradually with age. According to the findings, older children (13 years old) were more prone to express a feeling of being unable to stop worrying compared to their younger counterparts (48% versus 22% for 9-year-olds).
Knowing the common worries of children and their corresponding ages can help parents and caregivers teach coping mechanisms to help them grow into healthy adults. R. Lawrence Moss, MD, the CEO of Nemours Children’s Health, emphasized that the current mental health crisis among young people requires a collaborative effort from caregivers, teachers, parents, and healthcare professionals to provide support and resources. Mental health care is as crucial as physical health care in promoting long-term health for children.
A third of children feel they worry more than their peers
Most children worry at least occasionally, and one in three feel they worry more than their age mates. Girls are more likely to worry about friendships, while 35% worry about the health of their loved ones. Kids who worry about their appearance, friendships, and bullying tend to do so more than once a week. Additionally, 20% of kids worry about violence worldwide, 21% worry about money, and 19% worry about the environment at least once a week.
Stress can cause various negative feelings and physical symptoms in children, such as distraction, sadness, and a lack of interest in talking to others. Some may also experience nausea, stomach pain, and headaches.
According to a survey, almost all children (97%) take steps to make themselves feel better or stop worrying. Popular methods include talking to someone, watching TV, and playing video games.
