School anxiety on rise: Here's how parents can spot early signs and intervene

Globally, there is abundant evidence that anxiety among children and adolescents has increased over the past few decades and will continue to rise. The rise has translated into more children who dread school, avoid classes or suffer concentration and sleep problems that undermine learning.

The good news is that research points to reliable early warning signs that parents can watch out for and attempt interventions that can reduce anxiety when used early.

What the global trend indicates

According to Global Health/Public Health analysis published in 2024, the global incidence of anxiety disorders among those aged 10–24 years increased by 52% from 1990 to 2021, with a sharp rise after 2019. This large population-level study (GBD-style analysis) documents a long-term increase in adolescent anxiety worldwide, with a notable post-2019 acceleration.

Bullying, disparities in socioeconomic status and disruption caused by the pandemic are identified as significant contributors.

For parents, school-age anxiety is not just a family issue; rather, it is a growing public health trend that necessitates increased vigilance and prompt action.

What early signs parents should watch for

School anxiety doesn’t always look like worry written across a child’s face — it often shows up in subtler ways that parents can easily miss.

One of the most telling signs is reluctance or outright refusal to attend school, especially after a vacation, illness, or a transition to a new grade. Physical complaints such as headaches and stomach aches that mysteriously disappear on weekends or holidays are another red flag, as anxiety frequently takes a bodily form in children.

Parents should also pay attention to changes in sleep patterns, appetite, focus, or slipping grades — global studies have long linked anxiety to impaired academic performance.

Younger children may become unusually clingy at drop-off, avoid friends, or express overwhelming worry about separation, all of which can foreshadow school refusal. Older children might grapple with persistent fears of being judged, perfectionism, or catastrophic thinking about tests and social situations.

Taken together, these signs signal more than “just nerves.” If noticed early, they give parents an opportunity to step in with support, reassurance, and professional help if needed — helping children build resilience rather than letting anxiety erode their confidence in school.

Steps parents can take to intervene

For parents, many obstacles can be overcome by normalising help-seeking and requesting a low-threshold referral or a school-based screen from your child's school or primary care physician. Researchers have noted that parent-led CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) delivered online with minimal professional support can reduce symptoms and is feasible at scale while school screening can identify children who would otherwise be missed.Working with school screening and participating in guided parent programs can be quick and effective first steps for parents. For parents, modelling calm, seeking support for yourself and establishing consistent routines break the avoidance cycle. Your own stress matters.

School-related anxiety in children is more prevalent than it used to be and it typically manifests as stomach aches, lack of energy or avoidance. The research is clear: the best ways to prevent anxiety from becoming a problem for a long time are early detection, school-linked screening, parent-focused CBT (including online guided programs) and parental self-care and skill building. If you are worried, treat it like any other health risk: keep an eye on it, ask for help and start with low-risk, evidence-based support as soon as possible.