Lifestyle changes could increase childhood anxiety

Fears are a normal part of a child's life. Children are afraid of the dark, or spiders or nurses. They worry about making friends or being separated from their parents. However, some children have more trouble managing their fears.

While researchers don't know why childhood anxiety might be more common than in the past, they suggest lifestyle changes could be one reason. For example, there are fewer filters to shield a child from the impact of negative events, such as social media and 24-hour news coverage.