Girls Are a Lot More Anxious Than Boys About Being Judged Negatively

NTU don who led study says social anxiety problems can have long-term repercussions

- Theresa Tan

Girls go through a sharp spike in social anxiety – the intense fear of being judged negatively in social situations, during the teenage years. Supporting the child's independence and autonomy is crucial for building self-esteem and confidence in navigating new or unfamiliar social situations, Prof Setoh said.

Meanwhile, children are more likely to develop worse anxiety symptoms in early adolescence if their mothers experience high levels of anxiety and parenting stress during pre-school years. This is because children may learn unhealthy ways of coping or thinking from their mother.