Teenagers feel a host of pressures. Some have to do with changes in puberty, how they fit in or about their place in life. Teen turmoil and depression goes beyond just mere moodiness. If left untreated it can become a serious problem and can even lead to death. Compared to the rest of the world US teens are less happy then teens from countries like Mexico, Spain, Brazil and Germany; so while parents work harder than previous generations have their kids just aren’t as happy as they used to be.
What may be even more surprising is that affluent teens are even less happy than minorities. Of the four largest ethnic populations in America, the happiest are African-Americans. This group was followed by Asians and then Hispanics, coming in fourth place are Caucasians. So while the majority of American wealth is enjoyed by whites, it is not tantamount to happiness.
Teens are far more likely to be concerned about recession and global problems than school. Thanks to the advancement of technology and social media today’s teens are more stressed and distressed than ever before. Awareness of global problems results in teens feeling more anxious than ever before about global conflict. They worry more about terrorism and conflict all over the world than their math or english homework.
Three Greatest Sources of Happiness for Teens:
So what does make teens happy? The list was narrowed to three:
- Family – time with family ( extended and immediate) was the most important answer.
- Friends – time with peers they socialize with.
- Free Time – having down time, play games and just relax overall.
Things that make teens unhappy are anxiety, entitlement and fear of missing out. Nowadays, due to social media and the net everyone is connected on a global scale, so they have a higher rate of depression and anxiety than from our predecessors who were unexposed.
A second source of unhappiness is a sense of entitlement. Today’s generation more than ever and more than prior generations feel entitled to possessions and perks than in the past. We feel unhappy when we don’t receive something that we feel we deserved and if things don’t go our way. These days we are attached to worldly possessions.
Teens also have a fear of missing out. This fear is more tangible. They want to be in the middle of all the fun. Social media could become disturbing for unhappy teens . If they feel like they were unable to be a part of something their friends shared, it could be devestating for them. They prefer to be in the middle of fun all the time.
What Parents Can Do:
As parents we could get our teens to acknowledge their happiness. Have your teen make a gratitude list. Ask them to write down what they are grateful for then discuss it with them. Get them to focus on one problem at a time instead of overwhelming them with a multitude of problems. Achievement can be gratifying!
Lastly, let your teen focus on situations and dilemmas they have control over and not what is beyond their reach. Get them to feel responsibility for situations they have control over. We need to help our children learn to be able to sort through their times of sorrow so they can appreciate their times of ease.