Research finds concerning choice as Children's Word of the Year
One in five children mentioned the word when conducting research
Lexicographers at Oxford University Press have revealed the unsettling Children's Word of the Year.
Experts at the university had asked over 8,000 school pupils to name their top words when talking about their health and wellbeing, as well as their life experience during lockdown.
Previous years had seen words such as 'coronavirus' and 'Brexit' come out on top, reflecting recent events.
However, the Children's Word of the Year for 2022 is 'anxiety', which reflects the effects many people - including children - felt during the pandemic.
Research from the Oxford University Press found that one in five children had cited the word, with other words such as 'challenging' and 'isolate' also ranking high.
Pupils across the UK ranging from Year Three to Year Nine contributed to the survey to help shape the Word of the Year, which has been running for over a decade.
Typically, researchers focus on specific aspects of life to reflect current events and its effect on children.
This year, Oxford University Press experts focused on health and wellbeing, as society tries to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, lexicographers at the university will be updating their dictionaries in order to include new words brought about by the pandemic, including 'bubble' and 'self-isolate'.
Speaking about the research, Helen Freeman, director of early childhood and home education at Oxford University Press said that the selection of 'anxiety' as Children's Word of the Year highlights the issue of children's mental health.
"The research highlights the vital role language plays for children when it comes to self-expression, learning and wellbeing. It's important now, more than ever, that we invest in supporting children's language development at home and in school," she said.
"The findings demonstrate the role we all play in making sure children have the words they need to be able to express themselves and that, as adults, we are aware the language we use around children can significantly influence their learning and wellbeing."