Childhood anxiety doesn’t just affect the present; its ripples extend into adulthood and society. Newly published research seeks to understand the long-term consequences and economic implications of this widespread issue.
Researchers from the University of Oxford, supported by NIHR PenARC and ARC OxTV, have undertaken a comprehensive review of the lasting consequences and economic implications of child anxiety problems. Their findings, shared in a video abstract (below), emphasise the importance of understanding and addressing this widespread issue.
Professor Mara Violato, a health economist at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, and senior author said:
“Anxiety problems are very common… over a quarter of people experience an anxiety disorder at some time in their life, and very often difficulties emerge during childhood and adolescence.”
Despite how common it is, there remains a significant gap in understanding the full scope of child anxiety problems and their associated costs.
The study, a systematic review and meta-analysis, looked at 83 existing papers on the subject. Jack Pollard, lead author and health economist also based in the Nuffield Department of Population Health, shared:
“Anxiety problems were associated with worse outcomes in 15 different outcome domains, from mental and physical health to employment and educational outcomes, as well as higher economic costs.”
Analysis suggests that childhood anxiety results in substantial costs for children, families, and wider society, estimated at around £4000 annually per child in direct and indirect expenses. However, studies with longer-term follow-up are needed.
The research paints a picture of the complex challenges children with anxiety problems face. Highlighting the broader implications, Mara Violato added,
“Our findings suggest that child anxiety problems persist in later childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood… The finding that child anxiety disorders are associated with substantial child, family, and societal level economic costs also underscores the importance of effective preventative and interventional policies.”
This work serves as a valuable resource for clinicians, policymakers, and the public and identifying and treating childhood anxiety problems early could prevent both individual distress and wider societal expense in the future.
Read the full paper here: The multifaceted consequences and economic costs of child anxiety problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Jack Pollard, Tessa Reardon, Chloe Williams, Cathy Creswell, Tamsin Ford, Alastair Gray, Nia Roberts, Paul Stallard, Obioha C. Ukoumunne, Mara Violato
JCPP Advances
https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12149