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With the resumption of school activities, two significant concerns have taken the forefront among parents – the influence of social media and the internet on their children’s lives.
As per the findings of the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, mental health problems have emerged as the foremost health apprehension for more than half of parents regarding their children and teenagers.
In this year’s roster of parental concerns about health-related matters for children in the United States, mental health and technology usage have taken the lead, surpassing childhood obesity, which had held the top spot a decade ago.
“Mental health, social media, and screen time have taken precedence over problems that directly affect physical health, such as unhealthy eating and obesity,” remarked Dr. Susan Woolford, M.D., M.P.H., a Mott pediatrician and co-director of the Mott Poll.
The nationally representative poll indicates that two-thirds of parents are anxious about their children’s increased engagement with digital devices, encompassing overall screen time and the use of social media. These issues hold the first and second positions, respectively, on the list of children’s health concerns this year. Dr. Woolford commented, “Children are engaging with digital devices and social media from a younger age, and parents may grapple with how to appropriately supervise their usage to prevent negative consequences on safety, self-esteem, social connections, and habits that could disrupt sleep and other aspects of health.”
The prominence of screen time concerns amplified during the pandemic, as earlier reports have indicated. Dr. Woolford advises parents to periodically assess their children’s technological usage and contemplate imposing limitations if they detect indications of detrimental interactions or behaviors. Certain settings on social media platforms and devices can also aid in safeguarding children.
Furthermore, the survey outcomes, garnered from 2,099 responses collected in February, underscore parents’ sustained apprehension regarding their children’s mental health. A substantial number of parents view topics such as depression, suicide, stress, anxiety, and bullying as substantial issues. Nearly half of the parents also expressed unease about the insufficient availability of mental health services. Dr. Woolford noted, “The disparity between the escalating number of young individuals experiencing mental health issues and the restricted access to mental health services carries significant implications for the well-being of children.”
Parents additionally conveyed elevated levels of concern about school violence, which could stem from direct encounters with incidents like school shootings or altercations, as well as media coverage of such occurrences.
Dr. Woolford added that alterations to the school setting, such as the presence of metal detectors, armed guards, locked doors, and active shooter drills, might serve as reminders to children and parents about the potential for school violence. Parents could face difficulties managing their own stress and anxiety while striving to offer reassurance to their children.
“Parents could engage in periodic conversations with their child about their feelings of safety at school and what they’ve heard about incidents of violence,” recommended Woolford. She advised tailoring the information to the child’s age and avoiding explicit details, while providing reassurance about the safety measures the school has implemented.
Parents from lower-income households were more prone to view various children’s health concerns as significant, including depression, suicide, bullying, school violence, unsafe neighborhoods, substance use, smoking, teen pregnancy, and sexual activity, child maltreatment, parental stress, discrimination, COVID-19, and health risks from pollution. Conversely, parents from middle and higher-income households were more likely to consider excessive device and social media usage as notable issues.
“Differences in parental perspectives on children’s health concerns could reflect the day-to-day experiences of dealing with environmental obstacles, such as unsafe neighborhoods, as well as instances of discrimination that might be more prevalent among children from lower-income households,” pointed out Woolford. The heightened concern about a wider array of child health issues among this group might correlate with their heightened reports of significant parental stress.
However, there were several topics that parents across all income groups rated similarly, including unhealthy diets, obesity, healthcare costs, and the absence of mental health services.
Slightly beyond the top 10 children’s health worries were topics such as obesity (48%), guns/gun injuries (47%), lack of mental health services (47%), poverty (45%), substance use (44%), child abuse/neglect (42%), limited access to healthcare (35%), parental stress (35%), misinformation about health (31%), teen pregnancy/sexual activity (31%), discrimination (31%), unsafe neighborhoods (30%), LGBTQ-related concerns (29%), and health hazards from polluted air and water (23%).
Towards the bottom of the list were concerns about vaccine safety (16%), overly involved parents (13%), and COVID-19 (12%).
“Today’s school-aged children are contending with significant changes in classroom dynamics, technology norms, and increased mental health challenges,” Woolford highlighted.
She encouraged parents to collaborate with schools, mentors, and healthcare providers to address ongoing and emerging health concerns. Regular conversations with children and teenagers should be fostered, encouraging them to openly discuss any physical or emotional apprehensions they may be encountering.
Source ANI
