Most U.S Teens See Anxiety and Depression as a Major Problem Among Their Peers

(U.S.) – For boys and girls, day-to-day experiences and future aspirations vary in key ways.

According to a report recently released by the Pew Research Center, anxiety and depression are on the rise among America’s youth, and whether they personally suffer from these conditions or not, seven-in-ten teens today see them as major problems among their peers.

This information comes from a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17. Concern about mental health cuts across gender, racial, and socio-economic lines, with roughly equal shares of teens, across demographic groups, say it is a significant issue in their community.

When it comes to the pressures teens face, academics tops the list, as 61% of teens say they feel a lot of pressure to get good grades. By comparison, the survey indicated, about three-in-ten say they feel a lot of pressure to look good (29%) and to fit in socially (28%), while roughly one-in-five feel similarly pressured to be involved in extracurricular activities and to be good at sports (21% each). And while about half of teens see drug addiction and alcohol consumption as major problems among people their age, fewer than one-in-ten say they personally feel a lot of pressure to use drugs (4%) or to drink alcohol (6%).

Other findings from the survey include: 

• Four-in-ten teens say they feel bored every day or almost every day. About three-in-ten say they feel tense or nervous about their day or wish they had more good friends with the same frequency (29% each).
• Girls are less likely than boys to say they get in trouble at school. About half of girls (48%) say they never get in trouble, compared with 33% of boys.
• Parents more likely to say they don’t spend enough time with their teens. Among parents who live with their teens, 45% say they spend too little time with their teenage children; a quarter of teens say the same about the time they spend with their parents.
• Majority of teens say they get a hug or kiss from their parents almost daily. About six-in-ten (59%) teens say this happens every day or almost every day. Roughly three-in-ten (31%) say they get help or advice from their parents with homework or school projects on a daily or almost daily basis, while 19% say they get into arguments with their parents with the same frequency.
• Virtually all teens say they aspire to having a job or career they enjoy: 95% say this would be extremely (63%0 or very (32%) important to them, personally, as adults.

You can read the full report here or find out more information on tens here.

The survey, which was conducted online September 17th – November 25th, 2018 includes interviews with 920 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17.

 

 

Read the full report: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/02/20/most-u-s-teens-see-anxiety-and-depression-as-a-major-problem-among-their-peers/ More on teens: The way U.S. teens spend their time is changing, but differences between boys and girls persist The survey, which was conducted online Sept. 17-Nov. 25, 2018, includes interviews with 920 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17.