Overbearing parents are fueling an explosion of mental health problems in children, according to a study.
A research team in Florida found that parents’ good intentions deprived their children of the time they needed to play independently, walk around and participate in activities.
In an analysis of 80 studies, researchers found that children were less able to play independently since the 1970s, consistent with a sharp increase in depression and anxiety during this period.
Now nine out of ten school administrators say their students have moderate or severe mental health problems.
Poor mental health among American children is now at an all-time high. The CDC found that 57 percent of girls in high school now struggle with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. For boys, it is 29 percent
Florida Atlantic University’s Dr. David Bjorklund spoke about the benefits of risky gambling for children
The lack of independent play deprives children of a chance to develop a character that can handle life’s stresses and be an immediate source of happiness, researchers say.
Dr. David Bjorklund, a psychologist at Florida Atlantic University north of Miami who led the research, said: “Parents today regularly receive messages about the dangers of unsupervised children and the value of high academic achievement.
“But they hear little of the conflicting reports that children need more and more opportunities for independent activities in order to grow up balanced.
‘[This includes] self-directed play and meaningful contributions to family and community life that are signs of trust, responsibility and competence.”
He added, “They need to feel that they can interact effectively with the real world, not just the world of school.”
In the meta-analysis published in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that children today are growing up with less of this important playtime.
America is facing an explosion of mental health problems among youth, with anxiety and depression reaching record highs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that in 2011, about 36 percent of female high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
But by 2021, that ratio had risen to 57 percent — an increase of nearly 60 percent.
Among boys, rates rose from 21 to 29 percent, or 38 percent, over the same period.
Experts have previously blamed social media, the Covid pandemic and problems with access to mental health care.
This study is the latest to shine a spotlight on parental control as the main cause.
Scientists warn that as the decades pass, parents become less willing to let children participate in risky games or socialize unsupervised, making them overbearing.
But they said risky play, such as climbing a tree, is essential to fostering children’s character development.
Without them, young people are at greater risk of developing phobias and gaining confidence in dealing with emergencies.
They also said children now spend too much time at school and have to do homework at home, leaving them without play activities.
The number of high school students considering attempting suicide also increased from 19 percent to 30 percent, according to the CDC
Since 1950, the average length of the school year in the US has increased by up to five weeks, at the expense of leisure time.
Homework, which used to be scarce or non-existent in primary school, is now taught in kindergarten for children from the age of five.
Recess times have also been reduced, dropping to just 26 minutes and 50 seconds per school day in 2014, with some schools eliminating recess altogether. In the 1990s, it averaged about 40 minutes a day. Parents are now demanding that breaks in all schools be extended to 50 minutes.
According to the report, nearly 10% of American children are anxious
Data from the US Department of Health and Human Services showed that nearly one in ten teens under the age of 17 experienced symptoms of anxiety.
DR Björklund said: “An important category of independent activity, especially for young children, is play.
“Research and daily observations show that play is a direct source of children’s happiness.”
The researchers also believe that the intensity of school work and fear of school failure can be linked to the worsening of children’s mental health.
DR Bjorklund added: “Unlike other crises such as the Covid epidemic, this decline in independent activity and therefore in children’s mental well-being has come to us gradually over decades, so many have barely noticed.
“Furthermore, unlike other health crises, this one is not the result of a highly contagious virus, but the result of good intentions gone too far – intentions to protect and provide for children that many think are better, what if be interpreted more.” Education, both inside and outside of actual schools.’
Experiencing anxiety at a young age is a risk for children because it can increase the likelihood that they will suffer from other conditions, such as depression, later in life.
It can also increase their risk of engaging in dangerous behaviour, including self-harm, substance abuse and peer bullying.
In October, the US Preventive Services Task Force first recommended that all children between the ages of eight and 18 be screened for anxiety.
They also had calls advising that children between the ages of 12 and 18 should be screened for depression.
A survey by Effective School Solutions, which provides mental health support in schools, found that 57 percent of school leaders now say more of their students than ever have moderate or severe mental health problems.
The same is true for parents: 57 percent said they are concerned about the mental health crisis in the classroom.
Conversely, only 16 percent said they were confident their school was up to the challenge.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
