A recent study found that rates of anxiety and depression are rising in youth, while other mental and physical diagnoses are remaining steady or falling.
The study, published April 21 in JAMA Pediatrics, used data from the annual National Survey of Children’s Health from 2016 through 2022. The survey data was weighted to represent the U.S. population of individuals under 18 who are noninstitutionalized. It asks about mental health and physical conditions.
Here are three findings:
1. The proportion of youth experiencing anxiety went up from 7.1% in 2016 to 10.6% in 2022. Depression rates also increased from 3.2% to 4.6%.
2. The number of youth who experienced behavioral or conduct problems remained steady, going from 7.4% in 2016 to 7.5% in 2022.
3. For physical ailments, the rate of heart conditions remained steady at 1.3% in 2016 to 1.4% in 2022. And the rate of asthma and severe headache or migraines decreased among youth (8.4% versus 6.5%, and 3.5% versus 2.6%, respectively).
