The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for anxiety in children and teens ages 8–18. The recommendation follows a systematic review of the potential benefits and harms of universal screening among children and teens. The task force concluded that the benefits of early identification and treatment warranted the recommendation. It comes on the heels of an earlier draft recommendation to screen all teens 12–18 for major depressive disorder (MDD).  

Pandemic Fallout 

Numerous studies point to the pandemic as a primary driver of the rising rates of anxiety among children and teens worldwide. Quarantines, social distancing, fears about illness and death, and remote learning upended normalcy and added stress, researchers found. One research review found that upwards of 40% of caregivers noticed signs of anxiety in their children during the pandemic (Sniadach et al., 2021).  

Social Media Effects

Other studies have identified social media outlets as a source of anxiety among children, teens, and young adults. Some researchers think spending excessive amounts of time on social media leads to poorer well-being (Riehm et al., 2019). Others say it’s the specific behaviors on social media that trigger anxiety. 

Behavioral researchers agree that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted normal social interactions among young people, sparking greater engagement with social media. More social media activity may raise the risks of 

• peer conflict, 
• online victimization, 
• harassment, 
• discrimination, 
• overexposure to upsetting content, 
• anxiety about their social media identity, 
• unhealthy social comparison, and 
• participation in destructive social movements (Hamilton et al., 2022). 

Economic Stress 

As rising inflation and economic woes imperil families in the wake of the pandemic, it’s likely that anxiety, stress, and depression will increase among children and teens. Studies that tracked child and teen mental health following global recessions found that, as economies worsened, mental health problems among children grew (Golberstein et al., 2019).  

Screening for Anxiety and Depression  

Universal anxiety and depression screenings can take place in healthcare or educational settings. Brief, standardized anxiety assessments can help you identify who’s at risk and rate the severity of a child’s or teen’s symptoms.  

Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale, Second Edition (RCMAS-2) can be administered in 10–15 minutes, using elementary-level, yes-no questions. A short form cuts the administration time to 5 minutes. The RCMAS-2 is available in Spanish and English. 

Reynolds Child Depression Scale, Second Edition (RCDS-2) tracks depression symptoms in children grades 2–6. The RCDS-2 can be completed in 10–15 minutes, with the short form taking just 2–3 minutes. 

Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, Second Edition (RADS-2) takes 5–10 minutes to administer. The short form can be administered in 2–3 minutes. The RADS-2 was standardized with an ethnically diverse sample of U.S. and Canadian teens, stratified by age and sex.  

Children’s Depression Inventory, Second Edition (CDI-2) features self-reports, teacher reports, and parent reports. The CDI-2 can be administered in 5–15 minutes. The short form takes 5–10 minutes to complete. 

If you’d like to learn more about how to screen for anxiety and depression in your clinic or school, talk to a WPS Assessment Consultant for expert guidance on quick, simple, validated measures that can help you—and the kids you serve. 

Research and Resources: 

Golberstein, E., Gonzales, G., & Meara, E. (2019). How do economic downturns affect the mental health of children? Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey. Health Economics, 28(8), 955–970. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.3885 

Hamilton, J. L., Nesi, J., & Choukas-Bradley, S. (2022). Reexamining social media and socioemotional well-being among adolescents through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic: A theoretical review and directions for future research. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(3), 662–679. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916211014189 

Riehm, K. E., Feder, K. A., Tormohlen, K. N., Crum, R. M., Young, A. S., Green, K. M., Pacek, L. R., La Flair, L. N., & Mojtabai, R. (2019). Associations between time spent using social media and internalizing and externalizing problems among US youth. JAMA Psychiatry, 76(12), 1266–1273. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325 

Śniadach, J., Szymkowiak, S., Osip, P., & Waszkiewicz, N. (2021). Increased depression and anxiety disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic in children and adolescents: A literature review. Life, 11(11), 1188. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111188 

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2022, April 12). Anxiety in children and adolescents: Screening. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-recommendation/screening-anxiety-children-adolescents#citation32 

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2022, April 12). Depression and suicide risk in children and adolescents: Screening. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-recommendation/screening-depression-suicide-risk-children-adolescents