Children who avoid or flee from worrisome situations are more likely to develop anxiety, according to an analysis of parent and child surveys conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers. The underlying theory isn't that new, that an absence of risk and challenge in childhood leads to nervousness and anxiety later on. But researchers were nonetheless surprised at the ability of their surveys on "avoidance" to predict which children would develop more anxiety a year later.

Additional Coverage: KMSP

Star Tribune by Jeremy Olson

Tags: anxiety, avoidance, childhood, Pediatrics, Psychology and Psychiatry, Research, risk, Star Tribune