Adolescents' Well-being Assessed: Teen Psychologist Lisa Damour Believes They Are Faring Well
In the second part of the series titled "Are the kids alright?", psychologist and bestselling author Lisa Damour discusses the changes in teenagers over the last decade and the increasing mental health challenges they face.
Damour, who was interviewed by TED Radio Hour producer Fio Geiran, highlighted the impact of social media, academic pressure, and the importance of supporting emotional and psychological well-being in youth.
The teenagers interviewed in Washington, D.C., by Geiran, shared their stressors, which included homework, climate change, money issues, social media, and fitting in both online and off.
When asked about coping mechanisms, the teenagers discussed activities like biking, coding, limiting social media use, and looking forward to the future. Damour encourages teens to organize themselves around taking care of others to reduce suffering.
Online content bombards teenagers with diagnostic terminology like 'ADHD,' 'trauma,' and 'neurodivergence' used loosely. Damour advises adults to be curious when children begin to diagnose themselves or look for terms that fit their experiences. She suggests showing interest in a teen's feelings while guiding them to understand the difference between worrying mental health issues and normal emotions.
Rather than avoid those fears or call them hyperbole, adults should empower teens to make life choices that give them some control or make a small difference. Damour also suggests discussing social media boundaries with teenagers, such as no social media before bed or age-based restrictions on certain content.
Despite these pressures, Damour believes today's teenagers are as curious, smart, and resilient as ever. She states that feeling uncomfortable emotions is a natural reaction to tough situations. Damour often hears from teens about their fears about climate change.
Damour's list of changes included algorithm-driven social media, a global pandemic, sky-high achievement pressure, and new norms around gender, bodies, and identity. She emphasizes the need to frame expectations positively to help teenagers live up to them.
The goal is learning to cope with difficult emotions, not avoiding them. Damour also encourages adults to be supportive, talking to teens with respect and genuine interest to help them through difficult challenges.
Teenagers today are more willing to talk about their psychological and emotional well-being and attend therapy. Rather than being hostile about mindless distraction, Damour advises asking teenagers whether their online time allows them to do what they need to.
In conclusion, while today's teenagers face numerous challenges, they are also resilient and capable of coping with adversity. Adults play a crucial role in supporting them, empowering them, and helping them navigate these complex issues.
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