Chinese Study Says Stress Can Affect Kids as Young as Six
Even six-year-olds can develop school-related stress, according to a new study of Chinese children.
- Prof. Therese Hesketh of University College London studied 2191 children ages 6 to 12 years old.
- One-third of the students had stress-related symptoms, such as headaches and stomach aches.
- 80 percent worried about school exams, 66 percent were afraid their teachers would punish them.
- 75 percent feared their parents would punish them physically.
Many Chinese parents and teachers pressure children to compete for limited placements in universities, government jobs and graduate careers.
This study appeared in the British Medical Association’s Archives of Disease in Childhood.
