One in Six US Adolescents Report Moderate to Severe Anxiety Symptoms, JAMA Study Finds
A cross-sectional study found that approximately one in six US adolescents reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms in 2024, yet a substantial proportion received no mental health treatment. Anxiety frequently co-occurred with depression and suicidal thoughts, highlighting the urgent need for early identification, timely intervention, and improved access to evidence-based mental health care for adolescents. The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics by Tanner J. and colleagues.
To ascertain the accurate estimate and analyze healthcare utilization, researchers used data collected for 15,730 adolescents ranging in age between 12 and 20 years, enrolled for 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Data analysis was conducted in June 2026. Anxiety symptoms severity was quantified using the standardized 7 item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening tool which divided subjects into three severity levels of symptoms.
Co-morbid psychiatric disorders including depressive episodes, suicidal attempts in the past year, and substance usage in the last month along with mental health service use during the same period was determined by researchers. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to find out the sociodemographic determinants of severe anxiety.
Key findings:
- Statistical analysis in depth on the 15,730 adolescent study participants (7,725 females [48.9%]) revealed the presence of high disease burden and care deficits in the nation.
- In general, 3,642 adolescents (23.7%) had mild anxiety symptoms, 1,599 (9.6%) showed moderate symptoms, and 1,252 (7.2%) had severe anxiety symptoms.
- Adolescents who were female were found to suffer from anxiety symptoms at much higher rates than males when comparing moderate (13.4% versus 6.0%) and severe (10.8% versus 3.7%).
- Among adolescents suffering from severe anxiety symptoms, 802 (65.8%) experienced past-year major depressive episodes, 536 (48.2%) showed past-year suicidal ideations, and 392 (31.0%) used any substances during past month.
- Despite high disease burden, 512 adolescents (41.2%) who had severe anxiety symptoms and 793 (48.3%) adolescents who suffered from moderate anxiety symptoms failed to get any treatment services for their mental health issues over the past year.
In conclusion, nationally representative survey data show that teenage anxiety in the US is heavily burdened by depression, suicidal ideation, and unmet treatment needs. The findings of this study indicate that there is an urgent need to take action to ensure equal access to mental health services for all teenagers.
Reference:
Bommersbach TJ, Fontanella CA, Olfson M, Rhee TG. Estimates of Anxiety Symptoms Among US Adolescents. JAMA Pediatr. Published online October 12, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2026.4702
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