Parents may assume that preteens are preoccupied with things like their looks, schoolwork, and fitting into the social scene, but a new KidsHealth KidsPoll reveals that these aren't the only things on their minds.
The poll asked 1,154 kids ages 9 to 13 how much they worry (all the time, a lot, a little, or never) about a variety of concerns that are common among kids their age. The majority (86%) said they worry "almost all the time" or "a lot" about the health of someone they love. Many kids said they worry "almost all the time" or "a lot" about other things, too - including schoolwork, tests, or grades (77%), their future (76%), and looks or appearance (63%).
The KidsHealth KidsPoll "What Kids Worry About" piloted 20 items from a list of common worries and stressors for children in this age group. The final KidsPoll included the eight items that ranked highest on the pilot.
| Reason for Worry or Stress |
% of kids who worry
"almost all the time" |
% of kids who worry
"a lot" |
| Health of someone you love |
55% |
31% |
| Your future |
43% |
33% |
| Schoolwork, tests, or grades |
37% |
40% |
| Your looks or appearance |
37% |
26% |
| Making mistakes and messing up |
26% |
35% |
| Your friends and their problems |
24% |
33% |
| War or terrorism |
25% |
25% |
| The environment |
10% |
21% |
"Worry about the health of a loved one - whether it's a parent, grandparent, sibling, or a pet - is a concern kids often experience," explains D'Arcy Lyness, PhD, child and adolescent psychologist and medical editor for KidsHealth.org. "Health is on kids' minds during the preteen years, when many schools address the dangers of smoking, drinking alcohol, unhealthy eating, and not wearingseat belts. It's natural that as kids begin to learn about these behaviors that they may also begin to worry that these things will affect the people they love and rely on to keep them safe. At this age, kids become more aware of health problems that parents or grandparents may have. And some kids experience the illness or death of a loved one."
KidsPoll found that even though many kids worry about the health of a loved one, many do not talk about it. Of kids surveyed, only 23% said they talk to a parent when they worry. Twenty-five percent (25%) reported that they "talk to a friend" and 20% said they "try to fix it or make it better" on their own when they're worried.
KidsHealth.org, the most-visited website for children's health information, offers parents the following tips on how to help kids manage their worries about the health of loved ones: