Anxiety can disrupt high school in measurable ways, from absenteeism to lower grades and test performance. It tends to be reported more by girls and is shaped by pressures like academic stress, bullying, family conflict, and heavy social media use. On this page, you’ll also see how anxiety relates to depression, ADHD, eating disorders, and substance use—and learn what approaches like CBT and school-based therapy can do.
Key Takeaways
- Absenteeism due to anxiety: 25% of high schoolers miss 10+ days/year per CDC 2022.
- Anxious students score 15% lower on standardized tests per 2021 meta-analysis.
- 37% of high schoolers with anxiety report GPA drop >0.5 points.
- 50% of high schoolers with anxiety also have depression comorbidity per NIMH 2022.
- 25% exhibit ADHD symptoms alongside anxiety in 2023 study.
- Eating disorders co-occur in 20% of anxious female teens per 2021 data.
- In 2022, 55% more female high school students reported anxiety than males per CDC data.
- NIMH reports females aged 13-18 are twice as likely (31.6% vs 16.2%) to have anxiety disorders.
- A 2021 U.S. study found 41% of girls vs 25% of boys in high school with clinical anxiety.
- A 2022 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 42% of high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless, with anxiety symptoms reported by 37% nationwide.
- In a 2021 study of 15,000 U.S. high schoolers, 32% screened positive for generalized anxiety disorder using GAD-7 scale.
- UK's NHS 2023 data showed 1 in 6 high school students (ages 13-18) experienced anxiety disorders, equating to 16.7% prevalence.
- A 2023 study showed academic pressure causes 45% of anxiety in high school girls vs 30% boys.
- CDC 2022: Bullying victimization linked to 3x higher anxiety odds in high schoolers.
- Family conflict exposure increases anxiety risk by 2.5 times per 2021 study of 10,000 teens.
One in five high schoolers struggle with anxiety, harming grades, tests, and attendance.
Related reading
01 · Category
Academic Impacts27 stats
01
Absenteeism due to anxiety: 25% of high schoolers miss 10+ days/year per CDC 2022.
02
Anxious students score 15% lower on standardized tests per 2021 meta-analysis.
03
37% of high schoolers with anxiety report GPA drop >0.5 points.
04
Test anxiety affects 40% of students, reducing performance by 12% average.
05
High anxiety correlates with 2x higher dropout risk in high school per 2023 study.
06
28% of anxious teens avoid homework due to overwhelm 2022 survey.
07
College readiness scores 20% lower for students with untreated anxiety.
08
45% report concentration issues impacting grades per APA 2023.
09
Anxiety leads to 18% more course failures in 9th grade per longitudinal data.
10
33% of high achievers develop anxiety hindering further success 2021.
11
Remote learning anxiety caused 25% grade decline in 2020-2021.
12
40% avoid class presentations due to social anxiety.
13
Anxious students 1.5x more likely to need academic accommodations.
14
GPA average 3.2 for low anxiety vs 2.6 for high per 2022 study.
15
29% report anxiety-induced procrastination affecting deadlines.
16
STEM subjects see 22% performance drop due to math anxiety.
17
35% of anxious high schoolers consider switching majors prematurely.
18
Truancy rates 30% higher among anxious students 2023 data.
19
42% experience sleep disruption affecting next-day learning.
20
Anxiety reduces study hours by 40% weekly per self-report 2021.
21
27% fail to complete college apps due to anxiety barriers.
22
Physical symptoms cause 15% more missed school days.
23
Group work avoidance in 38% due to interpersonal anxiety.
24
31% report lower self-efficacy in academics linked to anxiety.
25
High-stakes testing anxiety lowers scores by 0.3 SD.
26
36% of anxious students seek extensions frequently.
27
Comorbid depression amplifies academic impact by 50%.
Interpretation
Academic Impacts Interpretation
For the academic impacts of anxiety, students miss school and score lower at a noticeable scale, with 25% missing 10+ days a year and anxious test performance averaging 12% lower, alongside 37% reporting a GPA drop of more than 0.5 points.
02 · Category
Comorbidities28 stats
01
50% of high schoolers with anxiety also have depression comorbidity per NIMH 2022.
02
25% exhibit ADHD symptoms alongside anxiety in 2023 study.
03
Eating disorders co-occur in 20% of anxious female teens per 2021 data.
04
Substance use disorders 3x higher in anxious high schoolers CDC 2022.
05
OCD comorbidity in 12% of GAD-diagnosed adolescents.
06
PTSD coexists with anxiety in 15% post-trauma teens 2020.
07
Autism spectrum + anxiety in 40% of high-functioning teens.
08
Bipolar traits in 8% of severe anxiety cases per 2022.
09
Self-harm behaviors 4x prevalent in anxious students 2023.
10
Insomnia comorbid with 55% of teen anxiety disorders.
11
Suicidal ideation 5x higher in comorbid anxiety-depression.
12
Conduct disorder overlaps 10% with anxiety in males.
13
Somatic symptom disorder in 18% anxious high schoolers.
14
30% have both social anxiety and depression per APA.
15
Chronic pain syndromes co-occur in 22% per 2021 study.
16
35% of anxious teens show hypochondriasis traits.
17
Gaming disorder comorbid 14% with anxiety 2023 WHO.
18
28% have tic disorders alongside anxiety.
19
Borderline personality features in 11% early onset anxiety.
20
42% report IBS symptoms with anxiety comorbidity.
21
Hearing loss linked to 20% higher anxiety-depression duo.
22
26% have selective mutism with social anxiety.
23
Procrastination disorder 32% overlap with GAD.
24
19% comorbid with schizophrenia prodrome in high-risk.
25
Migraine prevalence 25% higher in anxious teens.
26
44% of treated anxiety cases have residual depression.
27
Trichotillomania in 9% of pediatric anxiety clinics.
28
27% show dissociation symptoms with PTSD-anxiety.
Interpretation
Comorbidities Interpretation
Across high school anxiety cases, comorbid conditions are common and often substantial, with depression affecting 50% and substance use disorders being 3 times higher in anxious students, while additional issues like ADHD, eating disorders in 20% of anxious female teens, OCD in 12% of GAD adolescents, and PTSD in 15% of post trauma teens further highlight how anxiety rarely appears alone.
03 · Category
Gender Differences28 stats
01
In 2022, 55% more female high school students reported anxiety than males per CDC data.
02
NIMH reports females aged 13-18 are twice as likely (31.6% vs 16.2%) to have anxiety disorders.
03
A 2021 U.S. study found 41% of girls vs 25% of boys in high school with clinical anxiety.
04
UK's Anna Freud Centre 2023: Girls 2.5 times more likely to be anxious in secondary school.
05
Australian 2022 data: 35% female vs 23% male high schoolers anxious.
06
APA 2022: Among high schoolers, 50% of girls vs 30% boys report severe anxiety.
07
Canadian Community Health Survey 2021: Adolescent females 40% prevalence vs 20% males.
08
European HBSC 2022: Girls report 1.8 times higher anxiety rates than boys aged 11-15.
09
Pew 2023: 56% teen girls vs 28% boys say mental health impacts daily life due to anxiety.
10
Journal of Anxiety Disorders 2020: High school girls show 45% GAD rate vs 22% boys.
11
California 2021 survey: 42% Latina girls vs 30% boys reported anxiety.
12
South Africa 2022 study: Female high schoolers 38% anxious vs 19% males.
13
China 2023 research: 36% female vs 24% male secondary students anxious.
14
Israel 2021 post-COVID: Girls 48% vs boys 32% high anxiety.
15
A 2022 meta-analysis: Effect size d=0.6 for gender difference in teen anxiety.
16
Texas 2023: Hispanic girls 44% vs non-Hispanic boys 26% anxiety rates.
17
Black high school girls 39% vs boys 21% per 2021 NSCH data.
18
Asian American teens: Girls 35% vs boys 18% anxiety in 2022 study.
19
LGBTQ+ high school girls 65% vs boys 52% anxiety per GLSEN 2023.
20
Rural girls 37% vs urban boys 22% in U.S. 2022 rural health report.
21
Low SES girls 48% vs high SES boys 15% anxiety disparity 2021.
22
Athletes: Female 40% vs male 25% anxiety in high school sports study 2023.
23
Honors students: Girls 42% vs boys 28% report anxiety.
24
Immigrant background girls 41% vs boys 27% in 2022 EU study.
25
Single-parent family girls 45% vs boys 30% anxiety 2021.
26
9th grade girls 38% vs boys 24%, rising to 50% vs 32% by 12th per longitudinal study.
27
Pandemic exacerbated: Girls +20% increase vs boys +10% in anxiety 2020-2022.
28
Social media users: Girls 55% vs boys 35% anxiety linked.
Interpretation
Gender Differences Interpretation
Across multiple datasets, girls in high school consistently show much higher anxiety than boys, with figures like 55% more in CDC 2022 and NIMH finding ages 13 to 18 are twice as likely (31.6% versus 16.2%), underscoring a clear gender difference in anxiety rates.
More related reading
04 · Category
Prevalence30 stats
01
A 2022 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 42% of high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless, with anxiety symptoms reported by 37% nationwide.
02
In a 2021 study of 15,000 U.S. high schoolers, 32% screened positive for generalized anxiety disorder using GAD-7 scale.
03
UK's NHS 2023 data showed 1 in 6 high school students (ages 13-18) experienced anxiety disorders, equating to 16.7% prevalence.
04
A 2020 Australian study of 12,500 secondary students reported 29.1% met criteria for anxiety in the past 12 months.
05
NIMH 2022 statistics indicate 31.9% of U.S. adolescents aged 13-18 had any anxiety disorder lifetime prevalence.
06
A 2023 meta-analysis of 50 studies found global prevalence of anxiety among high school students at 34.5% during COVID-19.
07
California Healthy Kids Survey 2021: 38% of 7th-12th graders reported high anxiety levels.
08
Pew Research 2022 poll: 45% of U.S. teens aged 13-17 said anxiety was a major problem in their lives.
09
Journal of Adolescent Health 2020: 28% of 14,000 high school students experienced clinical anxiety symptoms.
10
WHO 2022 report: 14% of adolescents worldwide have anxiety disorders, rising to 25% in high school age groups.
11
A 2021 survey by APA found 37% of high school students reported anxiety interfering with daily life weekly.
12
Canadian study 2023 of 8,000 teens: 33% had probable anxiety disorder per SCAS questionnaire.
13
European School Survey 2022: 27% of high schoolers in 35 countries reported high anxiety scores.
14
Texas Youth Risk Survey 2021: 35.2% of high school students felt worried or anxious most days.
15
Indian Journal of Psychiatry 2022: 41% of 5,000 urban high school students showed moderate-severe anxiety.
16
Brazil national survey 2023: 30% of secondary students aged 14-18 had anxiety symptoms per DSM-5.
17
South Korea 2021 study: 38.7% of high schoolers reported anxiety disorder symptoms amid academic pressure.
18
New Zealand 2022 Youth19 survey: 24% of high school students met anxiety threshold.
19
Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey 2021: 40% reported frequent anxiety episodes.
20
Sweden 2023 national registry: 22% of 16-19 year olds diagnosed with anxiety disorders.
21
A 2022 U.S. study of 20,000 students found 39% with elevated anxiety post-pandemic.
22
Japan 2021 survey: 31% of high school students experienced panic attacks monthly.
23
Germany KiGGS study 2022 update: 15.3% of 11-17 year olds had anxiety disorders.
24
Mexico 2023 adolescent health survey: 28% reported high anxiety levels.
25
Russia 2022 study: 26% of high schoolers showed GAD symptoms.
26
A 2021 global review estimated 17-34% prevalence of anxiety in adolescents.
27
APA 2023 stress report: 45% of high schoolers cited anxiety as top stressor.
28
Ireland 2022 Growing Up in Ireland: 29% of 13-18 year olds anxious.
29
Singapore 2021 survey: 32.5% of secondary students had anxiety concerns.
30
Norway 2023 Ungdata: 28% reported high anxiety in high school sample.
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
Overall, prevalence is clearly high with rates ranging from about 16.7% in the UK to 31.9% lifetime prevalence in the US, and even reaching 34.5% globally during COVID-19, showing that anxiety is a widespread issue for high school students.
05 · Category
Risk Factors23 stats
01
A 2023 study showed academic pressure causes 45% of anxiety in high school girls vs 30% boys.
02
CDC 2022: Bullying victimization linked to 3x higher anxiety odds in high schoolers.
03
Family conflict exposure increases anxiety risk by 2.5 times per 2021 study of 10,000 teens.
04
Excessive social media use (>3hrs/day) associated with 40% higher anxiety in 2023 meta-analysis.
05
Low socioeconomic status correlates with 35% higher anxiety prevalence in high school.
06
Parental mental health issues raise teen anxiety risk by 2.8x per NIMH 2022 data.
07
Sleep deprivation (<6hrs/night) linked to 50% increased anxiety symptoms in 2021 survey.
08
LGBTQ+ identity increases anxiety odds ratio 2.2 in GLSEN 2023 national survey.
09
Childhood trauma (ACE score >4) predicts 60% anxiety rate in high school per 2022 study.
10
Perfectionism traits associated with 3.1x GAD risk in adolescents 2020 research.
11
Poor peer relationships double anxiety incidence per HBSC 2022 international data.
12
High academic workload (>20hrs homework/week) raises anxiety by 28% per 2023 study.
13
Food insecurity linked to 2.4x higher anxiety in U.S. high schoolers 2021.
14
Cyberbullying exposure increases anxiety by 35% odds per 2022 meta-analysis.
15
Physical inactivity (<1hr exercise/week) correlates with 25% elevated anxiety.
16
Transition to high school (9th grade) spikes anxiety risk by 40% per longitudinal data.
17
Screen time >5hrs/day OR=1.9 for anxiety disorders 2023.
18
Racial discrimination experiences raise anxiety 2.6x in minority high schoolers.
19
Caffeine intake >400mg/day linked to 30% higher panic symptoms.
20
Overweight/obesity BMI>30 increases anxiety risk 1.7x per 2022 cohort.
21
Parental divorce doubles anxiety persistence into high school per 2021.
22
Urban living vs rural: 32% higher anxiety due to density stressors 2023.
23
Gaming addiction (>20hrs/week) OR=2.3 for anxiety 2022.
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
Across key risk factors, anxiety is consistently higher when teens face stressors at home, school, or online, such as academic pressure raising anxiety to 45% in high school girls versus 30% in boys and family conflict exposure increasing risk by 2.5 times.
06 · Category
Treatments24 stats
01
CBT efficacy 70% for anxious high schoolers per 2022 meta-analysis.
02
SSRI antidepressants reduce symptoms by 50% in 60% of teen cases APA 2023.
03
Mindfulness apps lower anxiety scores 25% in 8-week trial 2021.
04
School-based therapy reaches 40% reduction in 75% of participants.
05
Exercise interventions (30min/day) cut anxiety 30% per 2023 RCT.
06
55% remission with combined CBT-medication per NIMH.
07
Peer support groups improve coping in 65% of high schoolers.
08
Yoga weekly sessions reduce GAD-7 by 18 points average.
09
80% of early intervention prevents chronicity per 2022 longitudinal.
10
Biofeedback lowers physiological anxiety 35% in teens.
11
45% benefit from exposure therapy for phobias.
12
Art therapy sessions yield 28% symptom drop in group settings.
13
Sleep hygiene programs improve anxiety 22% comorbid insomnia.
14
62% adherence to teletherapy reduces barriers effectively.
15
Nutrition counseling lowers anxiety 20% via gut-brain axis.
16
DBT skills training 50% effective for emotion dysregulation.
17
70% of school counselors provide anxiety interventions successfully.
18
ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) 40% better long-term outcomes.
19
Pet therapy sessions reduce cortisol 25% in anxious students.
20
55% recovery with family-based treatment modalities.
21
VR exposure therapy 65% efficacy for social anxiety.
22
Music therapy lowers state anxiety 30% pre-exams.
23
48% improvement with journaling interventions daily.
24
Group CBT 60% retention vs 40% individual per 2021.
Interpretation
Treatments Interpretation
Overall, evidence-based treatments show strong impact for high school anxiety, with CBT helping 70% of anxious teens and combined CBT and medication achieving 55% remission, while options like SSRI therapy and exercise also reduce symptoms meaningfully.
report visual · Key figures
How Anxiety Impacts School Life (Snapshot)
Anxiety is linked to multiple academic and daily-life disruptions for high school students.
25%
Absenteeism due to anxiety: 25% of high schoolers miss 10+ days/year per CDC 2022.
18%
Anxiety leads to 18% more course failures in 9th grade per longitudinal data.
42%
42% experience sleep disruption affecting next-day learning.
33%
33% of high achievers develop anxiety hindering further success 2021.
29%
29% report anxiety-induced procrastination affecting deadlines.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Anxiety In High School Students Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/anxiety-in-high-school-students-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Anxiety In High School Students Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/anxiety-in-high-school-students-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Anxiety In High School Students Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/anxiety-in-high-school-students-statistics.
Sources & references
97 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level