How is school anxiety diagnosed? | School Fear

How is school anxiety diagnosed?

The diagnosis of school phobia is usually made by the pediatrician or child psychologist or psychiatrist. The anamnesis, i.e. the questioning of the symptoms and circumstances, is decisive. In addition to this detailed discussion with the doctor, physical and psychological examinations are carried out in order to get a comprehensive picture of the child and his or her situation and to exclude other causes for the problems.

As part of the psychological assessment of the child, various tests can be used to assess the psychological stress associated with the school.This includes, for example, procedures that illustrate the child’s general mental health and intellectual performance. Only a few of these tests are specific to school anxiety. One is the so-called SAT test, in which the children are shown 10 picture panels and are asked to tell something about the situations depicted.

The examiner can direct the conversation to the typical aspects of school anxiety and evaluate the children’s answers accordingly. This method was developed in the 1970s and must therefore be adapted to today’s school situation and extended by some aspects. The testing is therefore always a combination of standardized test procedures and their modification and interpretation by an experienced doctor or psychologist in conjunction with the results of the other tests.

School Fear in Primary School

In principle, students of all ages can develop a fear of school. However, the causes and characteristics are different for younger children than for older ones. In elementary school, almost all children are overtaxed, at least initially.

This can be due to their classmates, teachers or the lessons themselves. Socially insecure children, for example, find it difficult to speak in front of their classmates and therefore contribute little to the lessons. Being called up frightens them, just as much as joint activities.

The child must first learn to cope with the demands of school, and the teacher should specifically encourage such children and take away their fear. Some teachers have the opposite effect on children of this age and can trigger a fear of school through particularly strict behavior and high performance demands. This does not mean that such a teacher is bad, because most children need strict rules as a structure.

However, it is precisely at this age that sensitive pupils are often found who are easily intimidated and develop a fear of school. Disputes with classmates reinforce this problem. Primary school children are therefore particularly susceptible to a fear of school. Fortunately, it is easy to treat and overcome in children of this age, as it is rarely an expression of a deeper psychological strain.