Why American teens are so sad - four main takeaways

[Anonymous]

This article makes sense but ugggh - it is so complicated parenting teens now.

Why American Teens Are So Sad
Four forces are propelling the rising rates of depression among young people by Derek Thompson
https://apple.news/ALWQH2XNvRd6MtUUBGrZKVw
Article discusses various fallacies such as teens behaving badly. In fact, lots of self-reported teen behaviors are moving in a positive direction. Since the 1990s, drinking-and-driving is down almost 50 percent. School fights are down 50 percent. Sex before 13 is down more than 70 percent. School bullying is down. And LGBTQ acceptance is up.

>>> Here are four inter dynamic forces propelling the increase in teen/ youth sadness.

1. Social-media use is pervasive

2. Sociality is down since pandemic

3. The world is stressful—and there is more news about the world’s stressors

4. Modern parenting strategies

Eg High-income parents in particular are spending much more time preparing their kids for a competitive college admissions process.

Eg Over accommodating every discomfort.

Widespread Parental substance abuse - One study found that a sixth of the increase in teen suicides was associated with parental opioid addiction.

….. the author concludes

“The truth is I’m not satisfied by any of the above explanations, on their own. But I see no reason to keep them alone. They interact, amplify, and compound. And together they paint a powerful picture.”

[Anonymous]

Also, the teen birth rate is at a record low, re: teens moving in a positive direction.

[Anonymous]

I think parental substance abuse isn’t talked about nearly enough. It seems so pervasive though: from alcohol to pot to opioids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, the teen birth rate is at a record low, re: teens moving in a positive direction.

Hmm also likely means less sex and relationships which may be contributing to sadness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the teen birth rate is at a record low, re: teens moving in a positive direction.

Hmm also likely means less sex and relationships which may be contributing to sadness

By relationships do you only mean dating? I personally prefer that my child not date or be sexually active as a teen. I can’t prevent it of course, but I would prefer that.

[Anonymous]

No spirituality

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the teen birth rate is at a record low, re: teens moving in a positive direction.

Hmm also likely means less sex and relationships which may be contributing to sadness

By relationships do you only mean dating? I personally prefer that my child not date or be sexually active as a teen. I can’t prevent it of course, but I would prefer that.

No dating at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the teen birth rate is at a record low, re: teens moving in a positive direction.

Hmm also likely means less sex and relationships which may be contributing to sadness

By relationships do you only mean dating? I personally prefer that my child not date or be sexually active as a teen. I can’t prevent it of course, but I would prefer that.

No dating at all?

I said “prefer.” Of course they will likely date and I won’t be a roadblock to that. But I’d still prefer if they didn’t in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This article makes sense but ugggh - it is so complicated parenting teens now.

Why American Teens Are So Sad
Four forces are propelling the rising rates of depression among young people by Derek Thompson
https://apple.news/ALWQH2XNvRd6MtUUBGrZKVw
Article discusses various fallacies such as teens behaving badly. In fact, lots of self-reported teen behaviors are moving in a positive direction. Since the 1990s, drinking-and-driving is down almost 50 percent. School fights are down 50 percent. Sex before 13 is down more than 70 percent. School bullying is down. And LGBTQ acceptance is up.

>>> Here are four inter dynamic forces propelling the increase in teen/ youth sadness.

1. Social-media use is pervasive

2. Sociality is down since pandemic

3. The world is stressful—and there is more news about the world’s stressors

4. Modern parenting strategies

Eg High-income parents in particular are spending much more time preparing their kids for a competitive college admissions process.

Eg Over accommodating every discomfort.

Widespread Parental substance abuse - One study found that a sixth of the increase in teen suicides was associated with parental opioid addiction.

….. the author concludes

“The truth is I’m not satisfied by any of the above explanations, on their own. But I see no reason to keep them alone. They interact, amplify, and compound. And together they paint a powerful picture.”

Screens and school/grade pressure...at least for us. We put our foot down and set a hard limit on screen time and have made school expectations clear (but backed off the pressure).

DS15 is p*ssed about the screens because he says all of his friends get pretty much unlimited screen once their homework is done and their grades are high (I believe it). Also, more goes on with screens than parents realize. They think "my kid is so sweet and innocent, etc." - I thought that too until my DS told me what really gets said on social media (Discord, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article makes sense but ugggh - it is so complicated parenting teens now.

Why American Teens Are So Sad
Four forces are propelling the rising rates of depression among young people by Derek Thompson
https://apple.news/ALWQH2XNvRd6MtUUBGrZKVw
Article discusses various fallacies such as teens behaving badly. In fact, lots of self-reported teen behaviors are moving in a positive direction. Since the 1990s, drinking-and-driving is down almost 50 percent. School fights are down 50 percent. Sex before 13 is down more than 70 percent. School bullying is down. And LGBTQ acceptance is up.

>>> Here are four inter dynamic forces propelling the increase in teen/ youth sadness.

1. Social-media use is pervasive

2. Sociality is down since pandemic

3. The world is stressful—and there is more news about the world’s stressors

4. Modern parenting strategies

Eg High-income parents in particular are spending much more time preparing their kids for a competitive college admissions process.

Eg Over accommodating every discomfort.

Widespread Parental substance abuse - One study found that a sixth of the increase in teen suicides was associated with parental opioid addiction.

….. the author concludes

“The truth is I’m not satisfied by any of the above explanations, on their own. But I see no reason to keep them alone. They interact, amplify, and compound. And together they paint a powerful picture.”

Screens and school/grade pressure...at least for us. We put our foot down and set a hard limit on screen time and have made school expectations clear (but backed off the pressure).

DS15 is p*ssed about the screens because he says all of his friends get pretty much unlimited screen once their homework is done and their grades are high (I believe it). Also, more goes on with screens than parents realize. They think "my kid is so sweet and innocent, etc." - I thought that too until my DS told me what really gets said on social media (Discord, etc).

Could you specify what screen time limits you place? My kid never cared too much for his phone until this year. He objects to screen time limits and says he has all As. Just to trying to find a middle ground here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the teen birth rate is at a record low, re: teens moving in a positive direction.

Hmm also likely means less sex and relationships which may be contributing to sadness

By relationships do you only mean dating? I personally prefer that my child not date or be sexually active as a teen. I can’t prevent it of course, but I would prefer that.

No dating at all?

I said “prefer.” Of course they will likely date and I won’t be a roadblock to that. But I’d still prefer if they didn’t in high school.

Why would you prefer they didn’t date in HS, PP? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article makes sense but ugggh - it is so complicated parenting teens now.

Why American Teens Are So Sad
Four forces are propelling the rising rates of depression among young people by Derek Thompson
https://apple.news/ALWQH2XNvRd6MtUUBGrZKVw
Article discusses various fallacies such as teens behaving badly. In fact, lots of self-reported teen behaviors are moving in a positive direction. Since the 1990s, drinking-and-driving is down almost 50 percent. School fights are down 50 percent. Sex before 13 is down more than 70 percent. School bullying is down. And LGBTQ acceptance is up.

>>> Here are four inter dynamic forces propelling the increase in teen/ youth sadness.

1. Social-media use is pervasive

2. Sociality is down since pandemic

3. The world is stressful—and there is more news about the world’s stressors

4. Modern parenting strategies

Eg High-income parents in particular are spending much more time preparing their kids for a competitive college admissions process.

Eg Over accommodating every discomfort.

Widespread Parental substance abuse - One study found that a sixth of the increase in teen suicides was associated with parental opioid addiction.

….. the author concludes

“The truth is I’m not satisfied by any of the above explanations, on their own. But I see no reason to keep them alone. They interact, amplify, and compound. And together they paint a powerful picture.”

Screens and school/grade pressure...at least for us. We put our foot down and set a hard limit on screen time and have made school expectations clear (but backed off the pressure).

DS15 is p*ssed about the screens because he says all of his friends get pretty much unlimited screen once their homework is done and their grades are high (I believe it). Also, more goes on with screens than parents realize. They think "my kid is so sweet and innocent, etc." - I thought that too until my DS told me what really gets said on social media (Discord, etc).

Could you specify what screen time limits you place? My kid never cared too much for his phone until this year. He objects to screen time limits and says he has all As. Just to trying to find a middle ground here.

I do make him him put the phone in the kitchen every night, which I think essential for good sleep habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the teen birth rate is at a record low, re: teens moving in a positive direction.

Hmm also likely means less sex and relationships which may be contributing to sadness

By relationships do you only mean dating? I personally prefer that my child not date or be sexually active as a teen. I can’t prevent it of course, but I would prefer that.

No dating at all?

I said “prefer.” Of course they will likely date and I won’t be a roadblock to that. But I’d still prefer if they didn’t in high school.

Why would you prefer they didn’t date in HS, PP? Just curious.

NP.. it's a distraction, and for some teens, especially girls, it becomes their whole world. I've seen teenagers get so wrapped up in their BF/GF relationships that everything else falls by wayside. Most teens are emotionally (and mentally) too immature to handle a serious relationship.

My 16 yr old boy is dating, but, it's not too serious. The girl actually puts a lot of boundaries in their relationship. They see each other mostly in school, and not outside of school. I think they went out by themselves a total of 3x in the past six months. They are both serious students -- ie straight As, high SAT scores.

I could totally see my son getting wrapped up in her if she didn't put those boundaries in place.

I also have a younger teen girl, and I've told her that I do not want her to get into a serious relationship in HS. She can "date" in HS, but not seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the teen birth rate is at a record low, re: teens moving in a positive direction.

Hmm also likely means less sex and relationships which may be contributing to sadness

By relationships do you only mean dating? I personally prefer that my child not date or be sexually active as a teen. I can’t prevent it of course, but I would prefer that.

No dating at all?

I said “prefer.” Of course they will likely date and I won’t be a roadblock to that. But I’d still prefer if they didn’t in high school.

Why would you prefer they didn’t date in HS, PP? Just curious.

PP here. I’m from another part of the country, and most high school couples seemed to follow each other to college or wherever and never really branch out. But then again there it was common for kids to dorm with their high school bestie in college somewhere. Parents around here are stern enough that hopefully that sort of thing wouldn’t happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the teen birth rate is at a record low, re: teens moving in a positive direction.

Hmm also likely means less sex and relationships which may be contributing to sadness

Decreased sex drive is also a side effect for a lot of antidepressant and other medications that have been increasingly prescribed for teens.