Is Anxiety Increasing in Prevalence for Children and Teens?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

The prevalence of anxiety among children and adolescents has been increasing, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Historical data also indicate a rising trend in anxiety diagnoses even before the pandemic, with significant variations based on age, gender, and specific populations such as those with life-limiting conditions or ASD. These findings underscore the need for enhanced mental health resources and interventions to address the growing mental health challenges faced by youth.

The prevalence of anxiety among children and adolescents has been a growing concern, particularly in light of recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This synthesis aims to analyze whether anxiety is increasing in prevalence for children and teens based on data from multiple research papers.

Key Insights

• Increased Anxiety During COVID-19:
  • The global prevalence of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with estimates showing that 1 in 5 youth are experiencing clinically elevated anxiety symptoms, which is double the prepandemic rates1 9.
• Historical Prevalence and Trends:
  • Prior to the pandemic, the prevalence of childhood anxiety disorders ranged from 10% to 22%, with lifetime prevalence estimated at about 28.8%2.
  • A study in Ontario, Canada, found that the point prevalence of anxiety/depression diagnoses increased particularly among 11-20 year-olds between 2012 and 2017, suggesting a rising trend even before the pandemic3.
• Anxiety in Specific Populations:
  • Children and adolescents with life-limiting conditions have a high prevalence of anxiety, with pooled estimates around 19.1%4.
  • Anxiety disorders are also prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), with about 39.6% having at least one comorbid anxiety disorder6 8 10.
• Age and Gender Differences:
  • Anxiety symptoms tend to increase with age, particularly from middle childhood to adolescence. Girls are more likely to experience higher rates of anxiety compared to boys1 3 5.
  • Specific phobia is the most common anxiety disorder in early childhood, while generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) becomes more prevalent in adolescence5.
• Impact of Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors:
  • Lower household income is associated with higher prevalence of anxiety diagnoses. Additionally, rural residency, which was previously inversely associated with anxiety, showed no significant difference by 20173.

Is anxiety increasing in prevalence for children and teens?

George Patton has answered Uncertain

An expert from Royal Children’s Hospital in Child Development, Mental Health, Public Health

We don’t really know as yet. I haven’t really seen any compelling studies yet where we have good data from before, during and after the pandemic/lockdowns. I expect that we will see these data emerge in the near future.

Some early data from Wuhan suggested that there hadn’t been any significant rise in mental health problems  as yet but that work was more focused on adults. There are obviously reasons why mental health might shift in the context of COVID-19 – loss of contact with friends, conflict at home, failing to cope with academic studies – equally there are reasons to think that for some kids it might be beneficial.   

There has now been one good study from the UK suggesting that anxiety has increased substantially for young people in the context of the pandemic and lockdown.

Is anxiety increasing in prevalence for children and teens?

Tracy Vaillancourt has answered Unlikely

An expert from University of Ottawa in Child Development, Education, Mental Health

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders affecting children and adolescents. The worldwide-pooled prevalence for anxiety disorders among youth is 6.5%. Although anxiety disorders are common, they are not increasing among children and teens.

Is anxiety increasing in prevalence for children and teens?

Jordan Davis has answered Likely

An expert from Temple University in Anxiety

Reported rates of anxiety disorders in youth have increased over the past decade. However, the fact that we are diagnosing more youth does not necessarily mean more youth have anxiety. It’s also possible that more youth are coming in to be assessed for anxiety, rather than ignoring their symptoms.

Is anxiety increasing in prevalence for children and teens?

Aliza Werner-Seidler has answered Likely

An expert from UNSW Sydney in Anxiety, Mental Health, Psychopathology

Large datasets and surveys are showing a trend of increased anxiety and mental illness in general in young people over the last decade. There is some debate as to whether this is a true trend or due to increased awareness and assessment of anxiety. However, the fact that representative population surveys (often including more than 10K young people) are showing this trend suggests there is a pattern of increased anxiety.

Is anxiety increasing in prevalence for children and teens?

Ronald Rapee has answered Uncertain

An expert from Macquarie University in Psychology, Mental Health, Child Development

The short answer is that it is impossible to say.

Determining the prevalence of a mental disorder depends on its definition and on having highly reliable measures.

To determine changes over time we have to repeat these measures in a consistent manner over long periods.

Measuring the prevalence of a mental disorder in a population is also extremely expensive and is therefore not typically repeated very often.

Usually by the time a population survey is repeated, the definitions and instruments have changed slightly, making it very hard to compare.