#adolescent-mental-health

#adolescent-mental-health

Almost every teenager in America is on social media now. The 2024 National Academies report confirmed what parents already suspected: Nearly 100 percent of adolescents have at least one account. And the research keeps piling up about what that's doing to them. Poor sleep. More anxiety. Depression rates are climbing; teens stay up until 2 a.m. and then wonder why they feel exhausted the next day. Middle schoolers compare themselves to filtered, photoshopped versions of reality and somehow expect to measure up.

Like a gazillion other fans out there, I couldn't wait for the final season of "Stranger Things" to come out. I was devouring the headlines, watching all the teasers, and scrolling through the interview clips. Not only am I obsessed with the quirky characters and storyline, as a child and family psychologist, I appreciate how the young people grow, strategize, and show bravery against some really strange things.

Kids who owned a smartphone at age 12 were found to have about 31% higher odds of depression, 40% higher odds of obesity and 62% higher odds of insufficient sleep than their peers who didn't have one. The researchers analyzed data from the National Institutes of Health-supported Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study assessments conducted between 2016 and 2022. The study included responses from 10,588 youths.

Do you know how your parents met? Where your grandparents went to school? Your mother's first job? My friend (and travel agent!) Carol Shaddux came up with a fun way to use the Do You Know Scale, a 20-item questionnaire I developed with my colleague Marshall Duke to assess knowledge of family stories. Carol suggests writing out each of the 20 questions on a strip of paper and having each family member pick one and then either tell or ask to hear that story.

When I was in high school, there was a peer with a Napoleonic complex who loved to target anyone who stood out as "weak." One day, this lanky, glasses-wearing kid we'll call Brian, who, if you didn't know him, might think he was a complete nerd who would flee at any sign of conflict. An unprovoked verbal assault began following Brian up the hall. As the aggressor advanced, a particularly foul barrage of insults settled like a fog around Brian in the hallway.

Feeling isolated after loss from parental death is common for teenagers, but that doesn't make their situation any easier. In fact, it can complicate the grief process even more if teens don't have anyone else close to them in their life who also lost a parent. The loss can suddenly make them feel different from their peers, almost like an outcast. This is where a helpful positive coping mechanism exercise can benefit them.

Parents are often concerned that too much screen time (e.g., time spent looking at social media apps on smartphones, monitors while gaming, or TV while watching series or movies) may negatively affect the mental health of their kids. There is indeed ample psychological research that supports this idea. For example, a recent integration of meta-analyses containing data from more than 1.9 million people showed a statistically significant association between increased time spent on social media and depression

Let's be real: being a teenager isn't easy. You're balancing schoolwork, friendships, family expectations, and figuring out who you are, all while trying to keep up with the fast-paced world around you. On top of that, social media, the pressure to succeed, and even world events can all weigh your mood down. It's no surprise that many teens today are struggling with anxiety, stress, and emotional fatigue.

Back-to-school season can bring excitement as well as anxiety. Research consistently shows that transitions-whether starting a new grade, entering high school, or moving away to college-are major stress points for children and young adults. For kids already coping with depression or anxiety, these changes can feel especially overwhelming. As parents, we cannot prevent every stressor, but we can buffer our children against them by offering support, structure, and understanding.

The NSDUH revealed a one-third reduction in serious thoughts of suicide among 12 to 17-year-olds, dropping from 13% to 10%, contributing to a decline in tragic outcomes.

Addictive screen use significantly correlates with increased suicidal behaviors and mental health issues in youth, surpassing the effects of total screen time.