Mental health, social media, screen time top concerns among parents: Study

As children return to school two issues are rising to the top of their parents concerns the impact of social media and the internet on childrens livesAccording to the University of Michigan Health CS Mott Childrens Hospital National Poll on Childrens Health more than half of parents identify mental health issues as their top health worry for their children and teensOverall mental health and technology use topped this years top ten list of parent concerns about healthrelated issues for children in the United States surpassing childhood obesity which parents regarded as the top childrens health issue a decade agoParents still view problems directly impacting physical health including unhealthy eating and obesity as important childrens health issues But these have been overtaken by concerns about mental health social media and screen time said Mott Poll codirector and Mott pediatrician Susan Woolford MD MPHTwothirds of parents are worried about childrens increased time on devices including overall screen time and use of social media taking the No1 and No2 spots on the list of childrens health concerns this year according to the nationally representative pollChildren are using digital devices and social media at younger ages and parents may struggle with how to appropriately monitor use to prevent negative impacts on safety selfesteem social connections and habits that may interfere with sleep and other areas of health Woolford saidScreen time became a growing concern for parents during the pandemic previous reports suggest Woolford encourages parents to regularly evaluate their childrens use of technology and consider limiting use if they notice signs of unhealthy interactions or behaviours Certain social media and device settings can also help protect kidsMental and emotional health concerns are top of mindThe poll findings which are based on 2099 responses collected in February also demonstrate parents continued concern about childrens mental health The majority of parents view depression suicide stress anxiety and related topics like bullying as big problemsAnd nearly half of parents expressed concern about a lack of mental health services The mismatch between the growing number of youth with mental health concerns and the limited access to mental health services has serious implications for childrens wellbeing Woolford saidParents also shared a high level of concern about school violence which may reflect direct experience with school shootings or fights as well as media coverage about such events Woolford saidShe added that changes to the school environment such as metal detectors armed guards and locked doors as well as active shooter drills may remind children and parents about the potential for school violence Parents may struggle with how to manage their own stress and anxiety while they try to reassure their children Parents may want to talk with their child periodically about how safe they feel at school and what theyve heard about violent incidents Woolford said They should tailor the information to their childs age and avoid sharing graphic details while offering reassurance about safety measures that their school has in place Parents in lowincome households were more likely to view several childrens health issues as a major concern including depression and suicide bullying school violence unsafe neighbourhoods drinking and drugs smoking and vaping teen pregnancy and sexual activity child abuse and neglect parental stress discrimination COVID and health risks from pollutionMeanwhile parents in middle and highincome homes are more likely to rate overuse of devices and social media as significant problems Differences in how parents view childrens health problems may reflect their daytoday experiences dealing with environmental challenges such as unsafe neighbourhoods as well as discrimination that may be more frequently experienced by children from lowincome homes Woolford saidConcern about a greater number of child health issues may be reflected in this groups higher reports of parental stress as a big problem Woolford addedBut parents across income groups rated other topics similarly including unhealthy diet obesity healthcare costs and lack of mental health servicesFalling just outside the top 10 childrens health concerns are obesity 48 per cent gunsgun injuries 47 per cent lack of mental health services 47 per cent poverty 45 per cent drinkingusing drugs 44 per cent child abuseneglect 42 per cent followed by unequal access to health care 35 per cent parental stress 35 per cent inaccuratemisleading health information 31 per cent teen pregnancysexual activity 31 per cent discrimination 31 per cent unsafe neighbourhoods 30 per cent gaygender issues LGBTQ 29 per cent and health risks from polluted water and air 23 per centAt the bottom of the list the safety of vaccines 16 per cent overinvolved parentsparents doing too much 13 per cent and COVID 12 per centTodays schoolaged children have experienced dramatic shifts in classroom environments technology norms and increased mental health challenges Woolford saidParents should partner with schools mentors and their childs healthcare providers to address both ongoing and emerging health concerns They should also regularly revisit conversations with their children and teens that encourage them to share any concerns they might be experiencing both physically and emotionallyacirciquestThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever