Teenagers are a very social group and the pandemic has severely limited the ability to communicate socially. A new poll examines the impact of this restriction.
Adolescence is a time of parties, hanging out, and extra-curricular activities in school. These social connections are a big part of a teenager’s emotional support structure. However, the pandemic has dramatically changed what teenagers are able to communicate and how they can connect. The latest poll from CS Mott Children’s Hospital by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, asked parents about how the pandemic congestion affected the emotional well-being of their 13- to 18-year-olds.1
Most parents reported that pandemic had a significant or somewhat negative effect on their child’s ability to be with friends. When asked about how their child made contact with friends and other peers, texting (64%) and connecting through social media (56%) were the most common methods. Teenagers also used online games (43%) and talked on the phone (35%) on a daily basis. Only a few parents reported that their teenagers physically accompanied friends daily or almost daily, indoors (9%) and outdoors (6%).
About half of parents said they had experienced a new or worsening mental health condition as a teenager since the outbreak began. There were differences between girls and parents. It was noted that more girls / teenagers than boys than teenagers had increased depression / sadness (31% vs 18%) and anxiety / worry (36% vs 19%). Parents also note changes in behavior that also differed between teenage girls and boys such as negative changes in sleep habits (24% vs. 21%), aggressive behavior (8% vs. 9%), and withdrawal from the family (14% vs. 13%).
Parents were also asked about strategies they had used to help alleviate the side effects.
- Scattered rules: 52% of parents did this, 81% of those parents said it helped
- Relaxation rules on social media: 47% of parents did this, 70% of those parents said it helped
- Talking to teachers / school counselors: 34% of parents did this, 57% of these parents said it helped
- Looking for information on the internet: 32% of parents did this, 58% of those parents said it helped
- Getting help from a mental health provider: 29% of parents did this, 74% of those parents said it helped
- Encouraging a teenager to use a web-based program: 25% of parents did this, 60% of those parents said it helped
Information
1. CS Mott Children’s Hospital. National Vote on Child Health: How the pandemic has affected teenagers’ mental health. 2020; 38 (2). Available at: https://mottpoll.org/reports/how-pandemic-has-impacted-teen-mental-health. Published March 15, 2021. Accessed March 15, 2021.