‘Generation Anxiety’: Two years of crisis leads to major spike in child stress

Children in the UK are experiencing regular anxiety at a significantly increased rate¹ , as over two years of strain from the pandemic takes its toll on young people’s mental wellbeing. More than two-fifths (42%) of parents have reported their children are currently experiencing frequent anxiety, compared to less than a third (30%) in 2020.

This rise in anxiety is revealed in new research from specialist schools insurer Zurich Municipal, which helps thousands of UK primary and secondary schools manage their safeguarding risks. The study questioned parents of children aged 4-17 about their children’s mental wellbeing.

The Covid-19 pandemic and school issues top the list of anxieties for UK children² according to parents. It is children aged 11 that appear to be struggling most with day-to-day stress³, but the research finds 13-year-olds have been most impacted by the upheaval of the last two years, with this group experiencing the biggest increase in regular anxiety. 13-year-olds were the 12th most anxious year group in 2020, but have jumped 31 percentage points to 4th most anxious today.

The study also revealed how this anxiety is manifesting itself, with almost a quarter (24%) of parents saying their kids are having trouble sleeping, and another quarter (24%) reporting that their children are frequently unwilling to go to school. Worryingly, more than one in 10 (11%) parents have also noticed their children self-harming.

Additionally, parents fear that their children are choosing to withdraw into online spaces to deal with the real-world anxiety that they are feeling. Almost one in four (23%) parents said that they had noticed their child going online or using their phones more as a result of their increased stress.

Parents are struggling

Parents themselves are also feeling the strain, with more than a quarter (26%) saying that they are less able to deal with their child’s general anxiety now than they were before the pandemic. One in six (16%) admit that they don’t feel equipped to cope with any of their children’s anxieties.

Mental health issues experienced by parents are also having a knock-on effect on their ability to support their children. More than two-thirds (44%) of parents say that when they are more anxious they are less able to help their kids deal with the issues that are causing them worry.

To help parents, carers and schools, Zurich Municipal, together with safeguarding experts INEQE Safeguarding Group, have curated a set of resources to help alleviate anxiety. Available via the organisations’ Safer Schools website, the resources include tips on talking to children about how to deal with feelings of worry and build resilience.

Alix Bedford, risk expert at Zurich Municipal said:

“We know parents, teachers and carers are concerned about the significant upturn in anxiety that young people are experiencing. Our new research demonstrates just how much this stress is impacting the lives of children and the people who look after them.

“With the pandemic and exam worries constantly evolving and adding to the mental strain of the UK’s children, it can be difficult for parents to feel they have access to the right information to support them. We wanted to provide parents, teachers and caregivers with the resources they need to help their children through these complicated times.”

Jim Gamble QPM, chief executive of Ineqe Safeguarding Group said:

“Children are more able than ever to access distressing information through online sources like social media, which can exacerbate their feelings of anxiety and reduce the ability of parents to be in control of the content that their children are consuming.

“It is critically important for parents and teachers to understand how being online can affect young people’s mental health, especially if they’re being exposed to worrying news or misinformation from dubious sources. We’ve designed our tips to give adults the confidence to talk to their children about their fears and help them better cope with their anxiety.”

¹ 29% of children regularly fairly or very anxious pre-pandemic, compared 42% in 2022.
² 21% of parents said their child is currently most anxious about Covid-19, followed by 15% of parents who said their child is most worried about exam and homework issues.
³ 64% of parents of 11-year-olds report their child is regularly anxious

Appendix 1

Top 10 reactions to anxiety experienced by UK children in 2022

• Being more irritable or short tempered – 34%
• Becoming withdrawn – 27%
• Being unwilling to go to school – 24%
• Being unable to fall asleep or waking up frequently in the night – 24%
• Going online or using their phone more – 23%
• Frequently crying – 21%
• Nightmares – 17%
• Underperforming at school – 17%
• Bed wetting – 13%
• Being aggressive or violent – 11%