The spotlight of parents’ health apprehensions for their offspring has shifted towards mental health and the use of technology, overtaking former issues such as childhood obesity. The University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll has underscored these worries, highlighting the importance of screen time, social media, and the growing recognition of children’s emotional wellness.
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The Prevalence of Social Media and Devices as Top Concerns as Children Return to School
More than half of the parents are distressed about mental health, and concerns regarding children’s health are more pronounced among parents from financially disadvantaged households.
As the school year begins, two concerns have ascended in priority among parents: the impact of social media and internet in the lives of their children.
According to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, over fifty percent of parents rate mental health problems as the paramount health concerns for their children and adolescents.
In this year’s rankings, the dominant issues among the top ten parental worries about children’s health-related matters in the U.S. are emotional wellbeing and technology use—exceeding childhood obesity, which was the leading children’s health concern a decade prior.
“Though parents continue to recognize problems that directly affect physical health, such as poor diet and obesity, these are now surpassed by worries regarding mental health, social media, and screen time,” commented Susan Woolford, M.D., M.P.H., Mott Poll co-director and Mott pediatrician.
Parents from economically challenged households had a heightened perception of several children’s health problems. Credit: University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health
Growing Concerns about Screen Time and Device Utilization
As per the nationally representative survey, two-thirds of parents are apprehensive about their children’s increased time with devices, including screen time and social media usage, occupying the top two positions in this year’s list of children’s health worries.
“Young children are interacting with digital devices and social media at earlier ages, and parents may find it difficult to regulate usage to avert negative consequences on safety, self-worth, social relationships, and habits that could interfere with sleep and other aspects of health,” stated Woolford.
During the pandemic, screen time emerged as an escalating concern for parents, previous studies indicate. Woolford urges parents to periodically assess their children’s technology interaction and contemplate restrictions if they detect signs of unhealthy engagements or conduct. Specific device and social media settings may assist in safeguarding children.
Mental Health and Safety in School
The survey’s results, gathered from 2,099 responses in February, also display ongoing parental anxiety regarding children’s mental health. A significant number of parents perceive depression, suicide, stress, anxiety, and related subjects like bullying as substantial issues.
Close to half of the parents also voiced concerns about insufficient mental health services.
“The disparity between the increasing count of youth with mental health issues and restricted access to mental health care can have grave consequences for children’s well-being,” observed Woolford.
Parents also displayed substantial worry about school violence, which may mirror direct encounters with school shootings or fights, as well as media narratives regarding these incidents, Woolford explains.
Alterations in school settings, including metal detectors, armed security, locked doors, and active shooter drills, might remind children and parents of the potential risk of violence at school. Parents may find it challenging to manage their anxiety while attempting to comfort their child.
Woolford suggested that parents may wish to periodically converse with their child about their feelings of safety at school, tailoring the information to the child’s age without sharing graphic details, while offering assurance about the school’s safety measures.
Varied Concerns Based on Income Levels
Parents in low-income families were more prone to regard several child health issues as significant, encompassing depression and suicide, bullying, school violence, unsafe communities, substance abuse, smoking and vaping, teen pregnancy, child abuse, parental stress, discrimination, COVID, and pollution-related health risks.
Conversely, parents in middle and high-income homes are more inclined to deem the overuse of devices and social media as serious challenges.
“Differences in parental perceptions of children’s health issues might mirror their daily experiences dealing with obstacles like unsafe neighborhoods and discrimination that may be more common in children from low-income homes,” Woolford explained.
Heightened worry about numerous child health issues could be mirrored in this group’s increased reports of parental stress as a significant issue, Woolford adds.
Nevertheless, parents across various income brackets rated other subjects comparably, including an unhealthy diet, obesity, healthcare costs, and lack of mental health services.
A Comprehensive Perspective on Health Worries
Outside the top ten concerns for children’s health are obesity (48%), guns/gun injuries (47%), absence of mental health services (47%), poverty (45%), drug abuse (44%), child abuse/neglect (42%), followed by unequal healthcare access (35%), parental stress (35%), incorrect/misleading health information (31%), teen pregnancy/sexual behavior (31%), discrimination (31%), unsafe neighborhoods (30%), LGBTQ issues (29%), and risks from polluted water and air (23%).
At the list’s end: vaccine safety (16%), overbearing parents/parents overdoing (13%), and COVID (12%).
“Today’s school-going children have witnessed drastic shifts in classroom atmospheres, technology standards, and increased mental health challenges,” Woolford noted.
“Parents should collaborate with schools, mentors, and their child’s healthcare providers to address persistent and emerging health concerns. They should also revisit conversations with their children and teenagers that encourage them to voice any worries they might have, both physically and emotionally.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about children’s mental health
What has become the primary concern for parents regarding children’s health?
The primary concern for parents has shifted towards mental health and technology use, including screen time and social media, surpassing previous worries like childhood obesity.
What percentage of parents are worried about children’s increased time on devices?
According to a nationally representative poll, two-thirds of parents are worried about children’s increased time on devices, including overall screen time and the use of social media.
Are low-income households more concerned about specific children’s health issues?
Yes, parents in low-income households are more likely to view several children’s health issues as major concerns, including depression, suicide, bullying, school violence, unsafe neighborhoods, and health risks from pollution.
How has the pandemic influenced parents’
