Carla Mures HealthDay Reporter
(Health Day)
MONDAY, Aug. 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) — When American parents express concerns about their school-age children, social media use and the internet are at the top of the list.
Mental health issues are also a top concern, according to a national poll on children’s health by the University of Michigan Health Center CS Mott Children’s Hospital.
Pediatrician Dr Susan Woolford, co-lead of the poll, said: ‘Parents continue to view issues that directly impact physical health, such as unhealthy eating and obesity, as important health issues for their children. “There is,” he said.
“But they have been replaced by concerns about mental health, social media, and screen time,” Woolford said in a Michigan Medicine news release.
Two-thirds of parents surveyed reported that they were concerned about their children’s increasing amount of time spent on devices, including overall screen time and social media use. These were the #1 and #2 concerns on this year’s list.
“Children are using digital devices and social media from an early age, and parents are working hard to prevent negative effects on safety, self-esteem, social connections, habits that can interfere with sleep and other areas of health. They may be struggling with how to properly monitor usage,” Woolford said.
Previous reports suggest that parents’ concerns about screen time have increased during the pandemic.
Woolford recommends that parents regularly assess their children’s technology usage. Certain social media and device settings can also help protect children.
Mental and emotional health was also among the other top concerns.
The majority of parents think related topics such as depression, suicide, stress, anxiety and bullying are big problems, a poll has found.
Almost half of those surveyed said they were concerned about the lack of mental health services.
“The mismatch between the increasing number of young people with mental health concerns and limited access to mental health services has serious implications for children’s wellbeing,” Woolford said.
School violence is another concern. Woolford noted that changes to the school environment, such as metal detectors, armed guards, locked doors and active shooter drills, can serve as reminders of the potential for violence.
“Parents can regularly talk with their children about how safe they feel at school and what they’ve heard about incidents of violence,” Woolford says. “You should tailor information to the child’s age and provide reassurance about the safety measures the school has in place, while avoiding sharing graphic details.”
Poorer parents were more likely to have greater concerns about depression, suicide, bullying, school violence, unsafe neighborhoods, alcohol and drugs, and smoking and e-cigarettes. Other concerns for low-income parents included health risks from teen pregnancy and sexual activity, child abuse and neglect, parental stress, discrimination, COVID-19, and pollution.
People living in middle-income or above-income households were more likely to rate excessive device and social media use as a serious problem.
“Differences in how parents view children’s health issues reflect parents’ daily experiences dealing with environmental issues, such as unsafe neighborhoods and discrimination, which children from lower-income families experience more frequently. “It’s a possibility,” Woolford said.
Parents across income groups had similar concerns about a variety of topics, including unhealthy eating, obesity, medical costs, and lack of mental health services.
The lowest concerns on the list were vaccine safety at 16%, parental overreach at 13% and coronavirus at 12%.
“Parents should work with schools, educators, and their child’s health care provider to address both ongoing and emerging health issues. They should also have regular conversations with their children and teens. We encourage you to review your information and share any concerns you may be experiencing,” Mr Woolford said. Both physically and mentally. ”
A survey was conducted among parents in February. The results were announced on August 21st.
Source: Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan, News Release, August 21, 2023
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