HQ Team
April 28, 2023: Anxiety disorders during childhood can impact employment, difficulties in the workplace, and adult depression, a study by the University of Oxford found.
The researchers conducted a systematic review – a project to identify, evaluate and synthesise all published research studies on a specific area of interest.
“By examining the findings of this range of research studies, we found that people suffering from anxiety problems in childhood or as teenagers are more likely to have anxiety disorders in later youth and adulthood,” according to the study posted on the university’s website.
Various studies found a link between teenage anxiety disorders and adult depression. Teenagers who experience anxiety problems often miss more days of school and achieve lower grades than those who do not have an anxiety disorder.
Fear, dread
An anxiety disorder is a mental health condition in which you may respond to certain situations with fear and dread. You may also experience physical signs of anxiety, such as a pounding heart and sweating.
People aged 30 who had suffered anxiety disorders as teenagers were more than twice as likely to have been recently unemployed, according to one of the studies quoted by the researchers.
They may also encounter difficulties in the workplace. “This research shows that adults with an anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to struggle at work and suffer from stress.”
One research study found boys who suffered anxiety problems in childhood experienced 3% earnings from adult employment.
Mental health services
When families seek support, they struggle to access oversubscribed mental health services.
Many children with anxiety disorders do not receive treatment. According to the researchers, children with anxiety problems need to receive timely treatment before they develop further.
One way of helping children with anxiety disorders is to teach their parents how to use the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy when supporting their children.
Parents worked through a self-help book and had sessions with a therapist. This treatment is both clinically effective and good value for money. The NHS, the US, and Australia have widely adopted it.
