The first national survey to measure adolescent anxiety finds substantial symptoms among US teenagers, but only about half of those most affected are receiving support.
Anxiety is affecting a substantial share of teenagers in the United States, and new national data suggest many are still not getting the care they need. In research published in JAMA Pediatrics, University of Connecticut psychiatric epidemiologist T. Greg Rhee said results from the first adolescent anxiety questions in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health offer the clearest nationwide picture yet of the problem, after years in which clinicians relied mainly on anecdotes and regional studies.
The survey, which gathered responses from 15,730 adolescents aged 12 to 20, found that moderate to severe anxiety symptoms were common. Girls were more likely than boys to report serious symptoms, with about 17% saying their anxiety was moderate and 11% severe, compared with 6% and 4% of boys. Rhee said the findings show anxiety is not a marginal issue but a widespread burden among young people.
The data also point to a troubling overlap between anxiety and other mental health risks. Higher levels of anxiety were linked with more depression, suicidal thoughts and substance use, underscoring how often these concerns travel together rather than appearing in isolation. That broader pattern fits with CDC figures showing that mental health conditions among young people frequently intersect, with many youth health centre visits involving more than one behavioural or psychiatric diagnosis.
Access to treatment remains a major gap. According to the survey, only about half of adolescents with moderate or severe anxiety symptoms were receiving mental health support, with boys, racial and ethnic minorities and uninsured teens less likely to get help. Other research and public health data point to familiar barriers, including cost, stigma and uncertainty about how to seek care, while KFF has reported that anxiety symptoms remain common among adolescents. Because the new survey is a first snapshot, Rhee said future annual data will be needed to show how anxiety changes over time and how it shapes development and health.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
