New research on a group of Australian preschoolers suggests more than 40% are dealing with an anxiety disorder.
The study, led by Monash University and published in the journal of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, was based on interviews with the mothers of 545 three- and four-year-olds.
It found 48% of the group met criteria for a mental health disorder, with 43% meeting the criteria for an anxiety disorder. This included separation anxiety, social phobia, specific phobias (for example, fear of the dark) and generalised anxiety disorder.
