New research grant for Psychology set to help reduce anxiety in young people
Southampton researchers granted more than £80,000 to look at links with anxiety, memory and educational performance in children
Psychology researchers in Southampton have just been awarded a grant of more than £80,000 by Action Medical Research – the leading UK-wide medical research charity dedicated to helping babies and children.
The charity has been supporting significant medical breakthroughs for nearly 60 years, and has announced its latest round of funding to top research institutes at universities and hospitals investigating conditions affecting babies and children.
In this latest round of funding, the charity has given Psychology at the University of Southampton £83,282 to the Developmental Brain- Behaviour Laboratory. This is for a project investigating the effectiveness of working memory training to increase educational achievements and reduce anxiety in young people.
Anxiety in children and young people is associated with atypical behaviours such as excessive crying, persistent fears and anxious apprehension that interfere with daily routines and the development of relationships.
Anxiety and depression can affect up children and adolescents. Symptoms associated with clinical or subclinical levels of anxiety can be found in children as young as three years of age and these often continue from childhood into adulthood.
The impact of anxiety is significant, placing children and young people at risk for academic underachievement, social and peer difficulties and the development of depression and physical health problems such as increased blood pressure. Studies have consistently found a negative association between anxiety and educational achievement.