The No. 1 concern among parents? Their kids’ mental health, according to a new Pew Research Center poll of 3,757 American parents with children under 18.
Forty percent of parents with underage children said they were “extremely” or “very” worried about their children struggling with anxiety or depression, and 36 percent reported being “somewhat” concerned.
Bullying was the second biggest concern, with 35 percent of parents reporting they were “extremely” or “a lot” concerned and 39 percent reporting they were somewhat concerned.
Mothers were more likely than fathers to express concern about most of the surveyed issues, including their children’s mental health. There were also differences along race and socioeconomic status lines. While bullying was the No. 1 concern for Black parents and second for Asian parents, Black and Asian parents overall expressed lower levels of concern than White and Hispanic parents.
Children’s mental health was the No. 1 concern across all income levels, although parents with higher income levels expressed less concern overall across all categories. Thirty-two percent of high-income parents reported being concerned about their children’s mental health, compared to 48 percent of low-income parents.
“It is noteworthy that mental health continues to top the list of parents’ concerns above children’s physical safety,” said Rachel Minkin, a research associate at Pew and the report’s primary author.
It is difficult to compare these election results with previous years, as these exact questions, with similar formulations, have not been asked before.
In a 2015 survey, at least half of parents of anxious children may struggle with anxiety and depression at some point. In a 2019 survey of teens, 70 percent listed anxiety and depression as a “major problem”—the highest number of any other issue in that particular survey.
“What we can say is that this is a concern that predates the pandemic,” Minkin said.
The results didn’t surprise pediatricians who spoke with 19th.
“during [COVID-19] pandemic, we have seen an increase in rates of depression and anxiety,” said Chase Anderson, MD, a pediatrician and assistant professor at the University of California San Francisco.
Specifically, Anderson highlighted increased segregation due to school closures in 2020 and 2021. However, for some students, the reopening of schools may not improve mental health.
“Being back in school doesn’t mean kids aren’t still dealing with the trauma of social isolation,” Anderson said.
Anderson also highlighted the particular struggles LGBTQ+ students and students of color may face upon returning to school. There was no specific data in the Pew polling about LGBTQ+ Americans, but according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, evidence shows that LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk of depression and anxiety than their peers.
“For a lot of kids, schools weren’t always safe places. … We want to take a more nuanced and nuanced approach to each child,” he said.
Anderson also specifically drew attention to the impact of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Recent polling by The Trevor Project indicates that the national conversation around LGBTQ+ issues, including laws regulating bathroom use, athletics, and what can and cannot be discussed in schools, is on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. There can be negative impact.
“Kids are seeing things in the news that are stressing them out,” he said.
Hina Talib, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine, pointed out that the increase in concern about mental health may not be entirely negative as it also increases awareness.
“It is refreshing to see more parents coming in and asking us if we can ensure they are screened for anxiety and depression on their next visit. Even five or six years ago this didn’t happen very often in the pediatrician’s office,” she said.
According to both Anderson and Talib, parents may be the first to notice changes in their children’s behavior.
“Are they acting in ways that are unusual or have no explanation? Sometimes kids become more introverted. Another is that before puberty, depression actually shows up more as irritability or anger.” Anderson said.
So what can parents who are concerned about their children’s mental health do?
Talib stressed the importance of being sensitive to young people’s feelings, as well as talking with teens about mental health early and often.
Try not to invalidate. Try to lead with empathy. You really want to be able to listen more than you speak. Ask if they want to vent or if they need some advice. seeking permission to come along,” Talib said.
Anderson recommends making the discussion of mental health a normal part of family conversations. She said there is still a lot of stigma surrounding mental health discussions in American society.
“How is mental health talked about in your household? Is it tarnished? Are you saying, ‘Just suck it up and get it done?’ Or are you saying, ‘I know this is hard for you. I am here with you when you are going through this difficult situation. I’m here to talk about it,” he said.
Both recommended that parents who are concerned about their children’s mental health contact their pediatrician. Schools may also have resources to support children experiencing mental health difficulties if a therapist or doctor is not readily available.
Talib said, “Reach out to a school counselor or another type of community member who does counseling through a religious group or church — anywhere you can find someone for them to talk to and connect with emotionally.” can find.”
This story was originally published on January 24, 2023 by 19.