Children and Stress

32% of Flemish children between 10 and 14 years are suffering from stress and anxiety. This is the conclusion from a large pilot study of stress specialist Dr Luc Swinnen done with 1377 children in 18 schools.

"Children are a forgotten group in the study of stress, while the problem is rather common amongst them," said Swinnen. "Like adults, with children stress manifests itself in different degrees. The lighter form comes and disappears again. These are reactions to a sudden change."

"In other cases it is a matter of prolonged stress. In the worst case it leads to behavioral changes and staying away from school. But often there's no adequate assistance because the stress problem is not recognized as such."

The research shows that girls are more sensitive to stress than boys. There is also a relationship between stress level and the family situation in which children grow up. "Children from single parent families have more stress to deal with," said Swinnen.