Why American Teens Are So Sad
Unraveling the mystery of the melancholy that pervades American teenagers, we delve into the heart of their sadness. We explore societal pressures, mental health issues, and the impact of digital age, offering insights into this complex issue.
The United States is experiencing an extreme teenage mental-health crisis
From 2009 to 2021, the share of American high-school students who say they feel “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” rose from 26 percent to 44 percent, according to a new CDC study.
- This is the highest level of teenage sadness ever recorded.
The world is overwhelming
The more overwhelming the world feels to parents, the more they may try to bubble-wrap their kids with accommodations
- Over time, this protective parenting style deprives children of the emotional resilience they need to handle the world’s stresses
- Childhood becomes more insular
- College pressures skyrocket
- Outwardly, teens are growing up slower but online, they’re growing up faster
- Social media exposes teenagers to bullying, threats, and conversations about mental health
Why is this happening?
Four forces propelling the increase in sadness
- Social-media use
- Teenagers are uniquely sensitive to the judgment of friends, teachers, and the digital crowd
- School fights are down 50% since the 1990s
- Sex before 13 is down 70%
- LGBTQ acceptance is up
- Today’s teenagers are more comfortable talking about mental health, but rising youth sadness is no illusion
- The pandemic has made teen mental health worse, but it shouldn’t be ignored
- COVID-19 may be an overreaction to the pandemic
Modern parenting strategies
Anxious parents unintentionally transfer their anxiety to their kids
- Children are growing up slower than they used to
- Today’s children are less likely to drive, get a summer job, or be asked to do chores
- Researchers have noted a broad increase in an “accommodative” parenting style
- Part of growing up is learning how to release negative emotions in the face of inevitable stress
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