Parents cause teens to be anxious and depressed by making this one common mistake, experts warn
Don't be a worrying helicopter parent.
A new poll revealed that most U.S. parents are wary of letting their teenagers venture out on their own — despite it possibly being detrimental to their personal growth and development.
The team at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor surveyed over 1,000 parents across the country with children ages 13 to 18, originally reported on by Science News.
The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health found that fewer than half of parents would allow their teen to stay alone in a hotel room while they stepped out for breakfast.
Even fewer — about one-third — would permit their teen to walk alone to a nearby coffee shop, and only one in five parents said they'd be comfortable with their teen exploring an amusement park or museum solo.
More drastically, one in five parents say they have never allowed their teen to be away from them while on a trip.
Experts have long warned that today's children are growing up with fewer chances for independent play and exploration.
Compared to previous generations, teens today are less likely to walk or bike to school alone or even hold part-time jobs, thanks to their paranoid parents.
This drop in autonomy comes alongside a worrying rise in mental health issues among teens, including anxiety and depression.
While some researchers caution against drawing direct connections between the mental health crisis and parents' protectiveness, others are more certain of the correlation.
'It's absolutely no surprise to me that we are seeing these dramatic rises in anxiety, depression, even suicide among teenagers,' Boston College psychologist Peter Gray told Science News.
However, he noted there's still hope.
'If we reach some families and just approach this upcoming summer a little differently, I feel like that's a big win,' Gray said.
Experts suggest that allowing your child to give input on where you vacation and setting rules allows parents and teens to set boundaries that both are comfortable with.
For example, most parents agreed that having teens check in by phone (64%), asking them to stay with friends or siblings (62%), and telling them to stay in agreed-upon locations (55%) would bring them comfort while allowing kids to find their independence
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Upcoming summer blood drives in the Southern Tier
SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WETM) — If people around the Southern Tier are looking to support a good cause and potentially save lives, a blood drive on Tuesday in both Elmira and Corning may be a good place to start. The Red Cross and WETM 'Summer Blood Drive' is set to take place on Tuesday, June 17, from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at two locations in the Southern Tier. USW Local 1000, located at 100 Nasser Civic Center Plaza in the City of Corning Clarion Inn Elmira, located at 1760 East Water Street in the City of Elmira If people would like to sign up to donate, they can do so by visiting the American Red Cross Website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Health Line
21 minutes ago
- Health Line
6 Long-Term Complications of Uncontrolled Ulcerative Colitis
Key takeaways Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Severe or persistent inflammation can increase your risk of complications. For example, constant inflammation in your intestine may eventually cause cells to become cancerous. People with UC have a higher risk of colorectal cancer than people without the disease. UC symptoms come and go, but the condition is chronic. To lower your risk for complications, follow the treatment plan your healthcare team has prescribed. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It develops when the immune system attacks food, bacteria, and other substances in the large intestine (colon). This causes inflammation that can permanently damage the colon lining. Periods of UC symptoms are called flare-ups. Symptom-free periods are called remission. People with UC alternate between flare-ups and remissions. Taking medications can help manage the immune response and bring down inflammation in your colon before it causes damage and complications. Some people may need surgery to remove damaged parts of their colon. Osteoporosis UC increases your risk of developing the bone-weakening disease osteoporosis. Up to 60% of people with IBD have thinner than average bones. Severe inflammation in your colon or having part of your colon removed with surgery can make it harder for your body to absorb calcium and vitamin D. You need these nutrients to keep your bones strong. Inflammation can also disrupt the process your body uses to rebuild new bone. Having weak bones increases your risk of fractures. Taking corticosteroids can also contribute to osteoporosis. These medications reduce inflammation in the colon, but they can also weaken bones. Eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D can help protect your bones. Doing weight-bearing exercises like walking up stairs and dancing also strengthens bones. If a bone density test shows that you have weakened bones, your doctor can prescribe bisphosphonates or other medications to protect them. You may also need to reduce your use of steroids. Colorectal cancer Constant inflammation in the intestine can eventually make cells turn cancerous. People with UC have a higher risk of getting colorectal cancer than people without the disease. Your likelihood of developing cancer does increase after you've had the condition for 8–10 years. But overall, your risk is low. Most people with UC will never get colorectal cancer. You're more likely to get colorectal cancer if you have: severe inflammation in your colon a family history of colorectal cancer It's important for people who have had UC for more than 8 years to get screened every 1–2 years with a colonoscopy. This test uses a long flexible tube to find and remove abnormal tissue in your lower intestine. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is inflammation and scarring in the bile ducts. These tubes carry the digestive fluid bile from your liver to your small intestine. PSC is common in people with UC. Scars can make the bile ducts narrow. The narrowing causes bile to back up in the liver. Over time, the liver can become scarred and damaged enough to need a transplant. Swollen colon (toxic megacolon) Toxic megacolon is a rare but dangerous complication of UC. It happens when gas becomes trapped in the colon and makes it swell up. The colon can become so enlarged that it breaks open and releases bacteria into the blood. The bacteria can cause a serious blood infection called septicemia. If you suspect you have a swollen colon, seek medical help immediately. Symptoms of toxic megacolon include: belly pain and swelling fever rapid heart rate Doctors treat toxic megacolon with medications to bring down swelling and prevent infection. If treatments don't work, you may need surgery to remove part or all of your colon. Perforated colon Inflammation and sores can weaken the colon wall so much that it eventually develops a hole. This is called a perforated colon. A perforated colon usually happens because of toxic megacolon. It's a medical emergency. Bacteria that live in your intestine can get out through the hole into the abdomen. These bacteria can cause a serious infection called peritonitis. If this happens, you'll need surgery to close the hole. Bleeding Damage to the colon can cause bleeding. You may notice the blood in your bowel movements. Bloody stools are a main symptom of UC. The bleeding can be severe enough to cause anemia — a drop in red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body. It causes symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Avoid this ‘fancy' seasoning to protect yourself from heart disease and stroke: cardiologist
It's time to spice things down. Seasoning is arguably the most exciting part of eating food, as it has the power to enhance natural flavors and add complexity to any dish. But one cardiologist is sounding the alarm on a supposedly upscale seasoning — and, fair warning, her advice might leave you feeling salty. While salt is an essential electrolyte that plays a crucial role in fluid balance and nerve and muscle function, too much of it can spike your blood pressure, thereby increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association advises limiting sodium intake to no more than 2,300 milligrams per day — roughly one teaspoon of table salt — with an ideal target of 1,500 mg for most adults, especially those with high blood pressure. However, the average American consumes around 3,400 mg of sodium daily. And not all salt is created equal, either. While coarse salt has been deemed the most sophisticated choice of sodium chloride, mostly thanks to its popularity among professional chefs — and the cute little ramekins they use to store it in — it might not be the healthiest option. Dr. Susan Cheng, a cardiologist in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, told that the crunchy texture of this 'fancy' salt might make it easier to overindulge. 'The less expensive regular salt you get from the grocery store that is not so fancy or coarse gives you as much taste for much less volume of salt. You're ingesting less salt,' Cheng told the outlet. Cardiologist Dr. Evan Levine has also previously warned his nearly 225,000 TikTok followers against jumping on the trendy salt train. In a video on the biggest TikTok healthcare lies, he ranted against the Celtic sea salt craze, which has gained traction because it's less processed and contains negligible amounts of minerals. 'Guess what? It's sodium chloride like your salt,' he said. 'It has trace — little itsy bitsy — amounts of calcium, potassium … and that's it.' Experts generally agree that regular table salt is actually the healthiest choice for most people. That's because it's fortified with iodine, an essential mineral that helps prevent iodine deficiency, which can lead to thyroid problem. Many gourmet salts — such as Himalayan, Kosher or sea salt — don't contain added iodine. Table salt has smaller, uniform grains, so you're more likely to use less without sacrificing flavor. And it's regulated for purity and consistency, which means fewer contaminants or trace heavy metals that can sometimes show up in unrefined salts.
