Research among 700 children aged 10 and 11 for the mental-health charity Place2Be suggests almost two-thirds worry “all the time”. Concerns about family and friends and fear of failing at school are the top causes of anxiety, says the charity.
Place2Be surveyed children in the top primary year at 20 schools across England, Scotland and Wales at the end of 2016.
The entire year group in each school took part.
Their top concerns were:
- Family well-being – 54%
- Well-being of friends – 48%
- School work – 41%
In addition:
- 40% felt their worries got in the way of school work
- Almost 30% said that once they started worrying they could not stop
- 21% said they did not know what to do when worried
There was a gender divide, with 36% of girls worrying about being bullied, compared with 22% of boys.
More girls (28%) worried about their looks than boys (18%).
But boys (24%) were more likely to worry about being angry than girls (16%).
The most common coping strategies were talking to family members (72%) or to friends (65%), while 65% of boys calmed themselves by playing computer games compared with 39% of girls.
Adult help
More than 80% of the children surveyed said the best way for adults to help was to listen sympathetically and pupils said it was important to be kind to anxious classmates. .
“I give them a hug and tell them not to worry and everything is OK,” said one 10-year-old.
The charity’s chief executive, Catherine Roche, said primary school was often characterised as innocent and happy.
“But in reality we know that young children can worry about a lot of things, whether it’s something going on at home, with their friends, or even about bad things happening in the world.
“It’s perfectly normal to worry from time to time, but if these worries become more serious or persistent, it’s important that children know where they can turn for help.
“Schools and families play a crucial role in ensuring that children learn to look out for each other and know how to get help if they need it.”
Source: bbc.com
Picture: freeimages.com
