The levels of teen/youth anxiety and depression is soaring. In “iGen,” Dr. Jean Twenge followed eleven MILLION youths from the 1960s on in four separate studies.
They lines fell off the charts around 2010, when the smartphone reached about 50% of the population. They diverged sharply from any previous generation at the same time in life. Questions on four major surveys of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders show anxiety and thoughts of depression about TWENTY point higher than the Millennials (and we thought the Millennials were screwed up!). I’ve interviewed four pastors of big churches in the past three weeks: three of them cited teen anxiety and emotional issues as the #1 problem for teens. A doc I was referred to said just five years ago she’d get one “anxiety” case a week. Now she gets five A DAY, all from younger people.
While no doubt “snowplow” or “helicopter” parents who do not let kids fail is a key ingredient, all (and I mean, almost without any exception) of the research is showing isolation, withdrawal, lack of sociability, and isolation issues arising from cell phones and devices as a major, if not the major causative factor in this epidemic of anxiety and suicides.
I definitely get the anxiety increase. This 24/7 constant info blurb stream is not healthy for anyone. I know when I don’t take enough time away I feel my mind race.
Going for a walk in nature, lifting, and meditation/yoga work wonders.