Howard Hirsch, an insurance executive from Lomita, Calif., was laid off two years ago, and it took him a few months to find work. Now the family is very cost-conscious – and he knows that can't help but affect his sons, ages 9 and 11

"They see that my wife and I are stressed. They see we are financially stressed. They see they can't do some of the things we used to do. We don't go out to eat as much. We don't go to movies as often. We have to explain to them there's financial issues and we need to conserve our money.

"We try to ease their concerns by talking to them, but I think it does make them stressed. They're worried about whether we would be able to support their fundraiser at school or do extracurricular activities." What's worrying young people.

Worrying about school and about their family's finances are causing the most stress for kids, according to the American Psychological Association, which for the first time included young people ages 8 to 17 in its annual Stress in America survey, released Tuesday.