As students head back to school, parents are increasingly worried about two key issues: the influence of social media and the internet on their children.
A recent survey conducted by the University of Michigan Health CS Mott Children’s Hospital’s National Poll on Children’s Health reveals that over half of parents rank mental health concerns as their top priority regarding their children and teenagers.
In fact, this year’s list of parental concerns regarding children’s health in the United States is dominated by issues related to mental health and technology use, surpassing childhood obesity, which was viewed as the predominant health issue a decade ago.
“While parents continue to see physical health issues, such as unhealthy diets and obesity, as significant, these concerns have been eclipsed by issues related to mental health, social media, and screen time,” noted Susan Woolford, MD, MPH, co-director of the Mott Poll and pediatrician at Mott.
According to the nationally representative poll, two-thirds of parents are particularly anxious about their children’s increased reliance on digital devices, with overall screen time and social media usage taking the top two positions among their health concerns for 2023.
“Children are engaging with digital devices and social platforms at increasingly younger ages, and parents often find it challenging to monitor their usage effectively to mitigate risks to safety, self-esteem, and social interactions, as well as habits that may disrupt sleep and other health aspects,” Woolford commented.
The rise of screen time has been a growing concern for parents, especially since the pandemic. Woolford advises parents to regularly assess their children’s technology use and consider imposing limits if they observe unhealthy behaviors or interactions. Specific settings on social media and devices can also be utilized to enhance children’s safety.
Concerns about mental and emotional health remain prominent.
The poll, which gathered 2,099 responses in February, highlights a persistent worry among parents regarding their children’s mental health. Issues such as depression, suicide, stress, anxiety, and related concerns like bullying are viewed as significant problems by the majority of parents.
Nearly half of the parents surveyed expressed apprehension over the scarcity of mental health services. “The growing number of youth experiencing mental health challenges alongside the limited availability of mental health resources has serious implications for their well-being,” Woolford stated.
School violence is another significant worry, reflecting both direct encounters with incidents such as shootings and the influence of media portrayals of such events, according to Woolford.
Enhancements to school security measures—such as metal detectors, armed personnel, and active shooter drills—may serve as reminders to students and parents about the potential for violence in schools. Parents often grapple with their own stress and anxiety while trying to reassure their children about their safety.
“It is important for parents to regularly engage their children in discussions about their feelings of safety at school and any information they might have regarding violent occurrences,” Woolford advised. “Conversations should be adjusted according to the child’s age, avoiding explicit details while providing reassurance about existing safety protocols.”
Parents from low-income households expressed elevated levels of concern regarding various health issues, such as depression, bullying, school violence, and risks associated with unsafe neighborhoods, substance abuse, child abuse, and other related topics.
Conversely, parents from middle and upper-income backgrounds tended to prioritize the overuse of devices and social media as key concerns.
“These disparities in parental perceptions of children’s health risks may reflect everyday challenges, including environmental factors like unsafe neighborhoods and discrimination, which are often encountered more by children in low-income households,” Woolford observed.
This group has reported higher levels of parental stress as a significant issue, she added.
Nevertheless, parents across all income levels expressed similar concerns regarding issues such as unhealthy diets, obesity, rising healthcare costs, and insufficient mental health services.
Falling just outside the top 10 children’s health concerns were obesity (48 percent), gun injuries (47 percent), lack of mental health services (47 percent), poverty (45 percent), and substance abuse (44 percent), among others. At the bottom of the list were vaccine safety (16 percent), overly involved parents (13 percent), and COVID (12 percent).
“Today’s school-aged children are navigating significant changes in their educational environments, technological norms, and mental health challenges,” Woolford said.
“It is crucial for parents to collaborate with schools, mentors, and healthcare providers to address both persistent and emerging health issues. Regular open dialogues with children and teens should also encourage them to express any concerns related to their physical and emotional well-being.”
