Objective To investigate anxiety among primary school students, so as to provide evidence for targeted psychological health education intervention.

Methods On April 11 − 14, 2023, convenience sampling and cluster sampling methods were used to select 900 primary school students from grades 4 − 6 in two primary schools in Pingliang City, Gansu Province as the research subjects. A questionnaire survey was conducted on a class basis to collect information on the general situation, family situation, injury situation, psychological state, and other aspects of primary school students. Evaluate the anxiety scores of primary school students using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, and analyze and compare the detection rate and anxiety scores of different characteristics among the surveyed primary school students.

Results According to the effective response of the questionnaire, a total of 877 primary school students were surveyed. The detection rate of anxiety among primary school students was 21.2%, and those with characteristics of left-behind, the experience of accidental injury, only child, girl, and same-generation guardian were more likely to be detected as anxiety (all P < 0.05). Compared with non-left-behind primary school students, the total scores of anxiety and scores of all dimensions among left-behind primary school students were higher (all P < 0.05). The total score and the scores of all dimensions of anxiety among primary school students with accident injury experience were higher than those without (all P < 0.05). The total score of anxiety, and the scores of social anxiety, separation anxiety and panic anxiety among only child were higher than those among non-only children (all P < 0.05). The total scores of anxiety, and the scores of separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic anxiety and somatic injury anxiety among girls were higher than those among boys (all P < 0.05). The total score of anxiety, and the scores of social anxiety, separation anxiety, panic anxiety and fear of physical injury among students of same-generation guardian were higher than those among students of other types (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion The occurrence of anxiety among primary school students is associated with their accidental injury experience, left-behind, only child, gender and type of guardianship. Therefore, attention should be paid to home-school coordination among primary school students during prevention of anxiety, especially focusing on those who are left behind and have accidental injury experience.