More teens struggling with added pressures, burnout, study shows

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) – More than a quarter of teens in the U.S. are experiencing burnout due to pressures at school, home and on social media, according to a recent study.

Sara Konrath, associate professor at Indiana University, said 81 percent of teens surveyed for the study feel negative pressure with achievement, appearance and having a plan for the future.

“The kinds of pressures that you might you might expect to face a in a career is what kids are saying they’re facing today in just in their daily lives as students and maybe part time workers,” Konrath said.

Konrath conducted the research study with Common Sense Media and The Center for Digital Thriving at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Over 1500 U.S. teens participated in the study.

Eight in 10 teens responded saying social media pressures them to look or behave a certain way. While 39-53% of teens say it’s a tool to release pressure, especially those who participate in online gaming.

“You can’t assume that all screen time is bad and we have to just listen to our young people and find out, help them, maybe guide them toward social media or screen use that makes them feel good and calm,” Konrath said.

The Montgomery County ADAMHS has a program to help parents guide teens to make smart social media choices called Digital Detox 101 .

“It gives them great advice and wisdom on the question, ‘Is my teenager or my youth using their social media or their devices too often?'” Tina Rezash Rogal, ADAMHS director of strategic initiative and communication, said.

The website also includes a list of 101 things to do around the Miami Valley for families to disconnect and have deeper conversations.

“If you’re out on a hike with your teenager in the woods, sometimes the walls come down and they’ll open up to you and talk to you about things that maybe they wouldn’t If both of you are sitting at the dinner table looking down at your digital devices,” Rezash Rogal said.

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