I’m usually fairly skeptical（怀疑的）about any research that concludes that people are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of themselves than they were 50 years ago. While any of these statements might be true, they are practically impossible to prove scientifically. Still, I was struck by a report which concluded that today’s children are significantly more a【小题1】 than children in the 1950s. In fact, the analysis showed, normal children aged 9 to 17 exhibit a higher level of anxiety today than children who were treated for mental illness 50 years ago.

Why are America’s kids so stressed? The report cites two main c【小题2】: increasing physical isolation brought on by high divorce rates and less involvement in community, among other things--and a growing perception that the world is a more dangerous place.

Considering that we_can’t_turn_the clock_back, adults can still do plenty to help the next generation.

At the top of the list is nurturing(培育) a better appreciation of the limits of individualism. No child is an island. S【小题3】 social ties helps build communities and protect individuals against stress.

To help kids build stronger connections with others, you can p【小题4】 the plug on TVs and computers. Your family will thank you later. They will have more time for face-to-face relationships, and they will get more sleep.

L【小题5】 the amount of virtual(虚拟的) violence your children are exposed to. It’s not just video games and movies; children see a lot of murder and crime on the local news.

Keep your e【小题6】 for your children reasonable. Many highly successful people never attended Harvard or Yale.

Make exercise part of your daily routine. It will help you cope with your own anxieties and p【小题7】 a good model for your kids. Sometimes anxiety is unavoidable. But it doesn’t have to ruin your life.