Anxiety in Children

This survey (the 41-item SCARED) is a screening test for anxiety in children/youth aged 8-17. If the questionnaire is positive, it does not mean necessarily that the person has anxiety, but it is recommended to see a health professional to explore further.

If you are an adult and concerned about a particular child/youth, you can ask the following questions below to the child/youth that you are concerned about:

Below is a list of sentences that describe how people feel. For each sentence, fill in one circle that corresponds to the response that seems to describe you for the last 3 months.

When I feel frightened, it is hard to breathe.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

I get headaches when I am at school.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

I don’t like to be with people I don’t know well.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

I get scared if I sleep away from home.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

I worry about other people liking me.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

When I get frightened, I feel like passing out.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

I am nervous.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

I follow my mother or father wherever they go.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

People tell me that I look nervous.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

10.

I feel nervous with people I don’t know well.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

11.

I get stomachaches at school.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

12.

When I get frightened, I feel like I am going crazy.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

13.

I worry about sleeping alone.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

14.

I worry about being as good as other kids.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

15.

When I get frightened, I feel like things are not real.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

16.

I have nightmares about something bad happening to my parents.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

17.

I worry about going to school.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

18.

When I get frightened, my heart beats fast.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

19.

I get shaky.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

20.

I have nightmares about something bad happening to me.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

21.

I worry about things working out for me.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

22.

When I get frightened, I sweat a lot.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

23.

I am a worrier.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

24.

I get really frightened for no reason at all.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

25.

I am afraid to be alone in the house.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

26.

It is hard for me to talk with people I don’t know well.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

27.

When I get frightened, I feel like I am choking.

Very true or often true (2.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

28.

People tell me that I worry too much.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

29.

I don’t like to be away from my family.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

30.

I am afraid of having anxiety (or panic) attacks.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

31.

I worry that something bad might happen to my parents.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

32.

I feel shy with people I don’t know well.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

33.

I worry about what is going to happen in the future.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

34.

When I get frightened, I feel like throwing up.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

35.

I worry about how well I do things.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

36.

I am scared to go to school.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

37.

I worry about things that have already happened.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

38.

When I get frightened, I feel dizzy.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

39.

I feel nervous when I am with other children or adults and I have to do something while they watch me (for example: read aloud, speak, play a game, play a sport).

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

40.

I feel nervous when I am going to parties, dances, or any place where there will be people that I don’t know well.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)

41.

I am shy.

Not true or hardly ever true (0.0)

Somewhat true or sometimes true (1.0)

Very true or often true (2.0)