Definitions, theories, and measurement of stress in children.
Thuy Lynch, Sara L Davis, Ann Hammack Johnson and 5 others
PMID 35868219WHAT IT FOUND
Stress in children can be measured by behavior, physiology, or report, but no universal screening tool is established.
Clinicians may watch growth, behavior, and family history.
Key findings
01The review covers stress in children younger than 12, and tools must be adapted to age and development.
02Stress in children is described as acute or chronic, and toxic stress occurs when severe ongoing threats happen without protective factors.
03There is no clear consensus on universal screening for stress in children, and many research instruments are not designed for screening.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a non-systematic narrative review, so it does not test any screening method or measure. The authors searched only English-language full-text articles and did not limit by date, so some relevant literature may be missing. There is no clear consensus on how often or how to universally screen children for stress. Many stress tools are designed for research, not clinical screening, and few are appropriate for young children. Very young children may not be able to self-report stress, and parent reports may not match the child's experience.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that any stress screening tool improves child health. The paper is a narrative review and says there is no clear consensus on universal screening.