American teens are experiencing enormous pressures related to mental health

The majority (81%) of American teens report feeling negative pressure regarding performance, appearance and their future a survey operated by Common Sense Media, Harvard Graduate School of Education and Indiana University.

The survey was based on a nationally representative survey of more than 1,500 teens ages 13 to 17 between October and November 2023. The survey asked about six different types of pressure teens face: game planning, performance, appearance, social life, friendship and activism. According to the research, more than half of teens feel pressure to have a set plan for their lives, to be exceptional in their performance and to have a certain body type.

This negative pressure was not the same among all different groups of teenagers. For example, girls and non-binary teens reported greater feelings of pressure than boys in all six domains examined. The same finding held true for LGBTQ+ teens compared to cisgender and non-LGBTQ+ teens.

The study sheds light on the growing mental health crisis in America, especially among teens who continue to face enormous challenges surrounding anxiety, stress and depression. Although pressure comes from many sources including parents, teachers, peers and individuals themselves; The study also looked at the role of social media in amplifying the various pressure domains examined.

Almost eight in ten teenagers The research shows that at least sometimes social media increases the pressure to look their best and present themselves in a certain way. The apps most often cited as contributing to this pressure include Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

A testimony from a 12^e The teenage first grade girl in the full investigation report states, “In my experience, social media makes me feel a lot more pressure about performance, game plans, and friends. It’s all of them, because I compare myself to the achievements of others. And for example, I can see on Instagram that other people are posting with their friends, and that might make me realize that I don’t hang out with my friends as much as some other people. And in those ways, social media already adds to my pressure because I can use it to compare myself to others.”

Social media and its effect on teen mental health have become a critical concern for U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. In his Advice from the US Surgeon General on social media and youth mental healthHe writes, “Social media can also perpetuate body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, social comparison, and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls.”

Social media, in particular, has become ubiquitous in American teen culture. 90% of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 use social media, and teens spend an average of nearly nine hours a day online, according to The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Social media use can also contribute to burnout, a problem common in adults. According to the national survey of more than 1,500 teenagers, more than a quarter of teenagers (27%) suffer from burnout. Although a minority problem for teens, burnout should be concerning for all parents, teachers, and counselors because it brings feelings of cynicism and emotional exhaustion that can exacerbate low morale.

Teens who engaged in self-care activities such as sleeping and exercising reported lower levels of burnout. On the other hand, about one in ten teens (9%) report never getting seven or more hours of sleep or at least one hour of physical activity in the past week (13%).

“Rather than increasing the pressure teens feel, parents of teens are more likely to encourage daily self-care activities that help young people reduce burnout, including sleep, time outdoors, and a less structured schedule,” says Amanda Lenhart , head of research at Common Sense Media.

The pressures America’s teens face are real, but it remains up to everyone to address them. This is a social responsibility that requires the cooperation of families, schools, communities and legislators. A first step could include strengthening mental health education in schools, improving peer support programs, setting limits on social media use, encouraging self-care through exercise and sleep, and advocating for accessible mental health services.

The future and well-being of our children will depend on it.