Anxiety and depression during the transition from childhood to adolescence

This study used longitudinal data from 1,499 children aged nine to 13 years to examine how anxiety and depressive symptoms influence one another during the transition from childhood to adolescence. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were found to be closely related and often occurred together, but the findings showed a directional pattern: increases in depressive symptoms predicted later increases in anxiety, while anxiety did not predict later depressive symptoms. These patterns were similar for girls and boys. The findings reinforce the importance of taking a broad view of children’s emotional wellbeing. Anxiety and depressive symptoms often occur together during the transition from childhood to adolescence. Practitioners should consider screening for and monitoring both when children present with emotional difficulties.

Why is this important?

• The transition from childhood to adolescence is associated with increasing emotional difficulties, particularly anxiety and depression. These difficulties often occur together and can have long-term impacts on health and wellbeing.
• Although anxiety and depression commonly co-occur, it is not well understood how they influence one another during this important developmental period. Better understanding of these patterns may help identify opportunities for early intervention.

What did they do?

• The authors examined how changes in anxiety and depression were related in children as they transitioned from childhood to adolescence.
• The authors analysed data from 1,499 children participating in the All Our Families (AOF) study, a Canadian longitudinal study. Children were approximately nine to 13 years old during the study period and completed self-report measures of anxiety and depression on four occasions between 2020 and 2023.
• Anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured using a standardised child self-report questionnaire (BASC-3).

What did they find?

• Anxiety and depressive symptoms were strongly related. Children with higher levels of anxiety tended to also report higher levels of depression. Increases in symptoms of one were often accompanied by increases in the other at the same point in time.
• Children who reported higher levels of depressive symptoms were more likely to experience increased anxiety in the following year. However, higher anxiety did not predict increased depressive symptoms at later time points.
• Similar patterns were found for boys and girls, with no evidence that the relationship between anxiety and depression differed by sex.

What does this mean for practice?

• The findings reinforce the importance of taking a broad view of children’s emotional wellbeing. Anxiety and depressive symptoms often occur together during the transition from childhood to adolescence. Practitioners should consider screening for and monitoring both when children present with emotional difficulties.
• Children experiencing elevated depressive symptoms may be at increased risk of developing anxiety over time. Early identification and support may help address emerging emotional difficulties before they become more complex.

This summary is one of the child mental health research highlights for July 2026, prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).