Nearly One in Five U.S. Teens Experienced Depression in 2023 (Fleck/Statista) Dec. 2, 2024

One of the reasons governments are moving to restrict teenagers’ access to social media is the fear of its harm to mental health. The topic has been reignited by the release of a new book titled The Anxious Generation, by New York University social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who links the rise in mental health illness directly to the proliferation of social networks and smartphones.

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The symptom network of internet gaming addiction, depression, and anxiety among children and adolescents (Xie & Tang/Scientific Reports) Nov. 29, 2024

Internet gaming addiction (IGA), depression, and anxiety are significant issues among children and adolescents, with substantial social implications. Understanding the specific characteristics of this relationship is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies. The present study employed network analysis to explore the symptom network of IGA, depression, and anxiety among 1,548 Chinese children and adolescents. The results showed that the core symptoms of IGA among children and adolescents were “tolerance”, “withdrawal”, and “conflict”. There was no significant gender difference in the structure, global strength, and core symptoms of IGA. Although there were no significant differences in the structure of the symptom network of IGA among children and adolescents of different ages, there were significant differences in global strength and some core symptoms (“conflict”). The core symptoms of the comorbidity of IGA, depression, and anxiety in children and adolescents included “feeling downhearted and blue”, “breathing difficulty”, “difficult to work up the initiative to do things”, and “withdrawal”. The comorbidity network did not show significant gender and age differences in network structure, but there were significant gender differences in global strength. Furthermore, there were significant gender and age differences in some core symptoms. The social impact of these findings is profound, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in schools and communities to address IGA and its comorbidities. Our results also suggest that interventions should be tailored to consider gender and age differences to maximize effectiveness.

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Is technology creating an anxious generation? (Jessica Wanger/World Economic Forum) Oct. 18, 2024

The data paints a complex picture: mental health issues among young people are escalating globally and while increased screen time and social media usage contribute to this trend, not all digital engagement is harmful. Experts emphasize the need for balanced technology use and redesigning digital tools to support children’s well-being. Positively, efforts are underway towards safeguarding youth mental health in an increasingly digital world.

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More Children Are Depressed and Anxious. Is Social Media Really Behind It? (Nidhi Subbaraman/The Wall Street Journal) Oct. 15, 2024

Lawmakers have proposed restrictions, but some scientists say it is hard to tell if they will help

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A survey found 64% of kids worry about school. Psychiatrist shares tips to ease anxiety. (Sara Moniuszko/CBS News) Oct. 4, 2024

A majority of kids have school-related worries, a recent survey found and there are ways to help ease their stress.

According to a survey from Nemours Children's Health, 64% of children ages 9 to 13 are worried about school.

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Why Are Kids Struggling with Anxiety More than Ever? (Jessica Colarossi/Boston University) Sept. 5, 2024

The pandemic’s lingering effects and chronic screen time make it hard for anxious kids to stay in school, says BU researcher, but parents can help by “praising instances of bravery”

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