{"id":29157,"date":"2015-08-26T10:00:41","date_gmt":"2015-08-26T17:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=29157"},"modified":"2018-01-17T12:05:08","modified_gmt":"2018-01-17T20:05:08","slug":"kids-may-be-more-stressed-than-parents-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/kids-may-be-more-stressed-than-parents-think-0826151","title":{"rendered":"Kids May Be More Stressed Than Parents Think"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MotherA WebMD study of stress<\/a> in parents and children suggests many parents may not notice signs of stress in their children.\u00a0When parents<\/a>\u00a0do\u00a0recognize their children’s stress, they often misattribute the stress to schoolwork challenges, even when the cause of the stress is\u00a0closer to home<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do Parents Recognize Their Children’s Stress?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

WebMD’s 2015 Stress in Children Consumer Survey collected data from June 1 to July 31, surveying a total of 432 parents of children<\/a> aged 5 to 13. The survey showed high levels of stress among parents, who rated their stress on a scale of 1\u00a0to 10. Fifty-seven percent reported their stress at a 7\u00a0or higher, and almost 1\u00a0in 5\u00a0parents said their stress was a 10.<\/p>\n

Even though these parents reported high levels of stress, most did not think their kids were stressed. In fact, 60%\u00a0percent of parents ranked\u00a0their children’s stress at a 4\u00a0or lower.<\/p>\n

To analyze children’s\u00a0stress levels, the survey asked about behaviors associated with stress, such as arguing, crying, anxiety<\/a>, and headaches. Seventy-two percent of parents reported their children had at least one symptom associated with stress during the last 12 months. Forty-four percent of children complained of headaches or stomachaches, and 38% said they experienced frequent nightmares<\/a> or insomnia<\/a>. Forty-three percent of parents said their children argued more than usual, and 37% reported an increase in crying or whining. These findings suggest that parents notice symptoms of stress in their children but may not attribute these symptoms to stress.<\/p>\n

Why Are Kids So Stressed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The array of stress-related symptoms reported\u00a0by most children in the study\u00a0indicate that\u00a0kids often struggle with stress, even if their parents do not correctly identify their symptoms.<\/p>\n

\n\t

Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\tAdvanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>When asked about the sources of their children’s stress, most parents (53%) said schoolwork and homework were key factors, and 51% said their children\u2019s friends caused stress. Yet 60% of survey respondents reported a stressful family event\u2014such as a divorce<\/a>, job loss, or death in the family<\/a>\u2014in the last year. This suggests much of children’s stress may stem from difficulties at home.<\/p>\n

Bullying<\/a> may also play a role in children’s stress levels. Thirty-eight percent of parents reported that their children experienced bullying, with 51% of those parents placing their children’s stress levels between 8\u00a0and 10.<\/p>\n

The American Psychological Association’s Stress in America survey may help illuminate some causes of stress\u00a0among older youth. During the school year, teens often report higher stress levels than adults, though 54% of teens say stress has little or no impact on their physical health<\/a>, compared to 39% of adults.<\/p>\n

Helping Stressed\u00a0Youth<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Therapy<\/a> can help kids better manage their stress, and some of those coping with conditions such as anxiety or depression<\/a>\u00a0may also obtain benefit from\u00a0medication or extensive lifestyle changes.\u00a0Overload can affect a child\u2019s overall well-being, so the American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to intervene if they observe one or more of the following in their children:<\/p>\n