Major worries prevailing among adolescent boys and girls: an overview
Teen life ain't always a walk in the park, but new findings might help you navigate the mystifying world of your adolescent kid.
Although teenagers, both boys, and girls, share many common hurdles, such as school stress and mental health issues, understanding their unique requirements for support is crucial, according to a recent Pew Research Center Survey.
Kim Parker, Pew's director of social trends research, shed light on the study, "We aimed to comprehend the challenges teenagers face nowadays, focusing on their academic and social experiences. We've been delving into men and masculinity this year, which includes investigating boys and girls."
The survey polled 1,391 teens between 13 and 17 years old, revealing some differences among them. For instance, girls reported feeling more pressure to fit in socially and look good, while boys felt they should be strong and excel at sports.
Regarding career aspirations, both sexes agreed that finding a fulfilling career, making money, and making friends were essential. Dr. Lisa Damour, author of "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents," praised this outlook, stating, "It's easy to stereotype teenagers as shallow, but this data reminds us they're serious about their education and career choices."
Performance Pressure
Both boys and girls expressed feeling pressure to achieve good grades. Interestingly, both genders perceived girls as receiving better grades and teacher favoritism, which aligns with existing data showing a pattern of girls consistently outperforming boys academically.
However, Michelle Icard, a parenting educator and speaker, argued that the gender gap should not be viewed as a competition but as a sign that something isn't working well for boys in the current educational system.
Support in Friendships
The survey revealed promising news about teen friendships. Only 2% of respondents said they had no friends, which Icard found encouraging, though she emphasized that even this number should ideally be zero.
"Adolescents rely heavily on their friendships during these years, as they're less likely to seek support from adults," Icard explained. "Friends often guide teens towards adults when needed, but without a supportive peer network, they could face dangerous situations."
Although most boys reported having a close friend they could confide in, the number was lower compared to girls who relied more on their friendships for support. Icard stressed the need to challenge the stereotype that boys don't form close relationships, while Damour warned about the societal pressure on boys to suppress vulnerable emotions.
Mental Health Differences
The survey showed a stark contrast in the ways boys and girls perceive their struggles. Both agreed that girls were more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, while boys were more prone to substance abuse, fighting, and class disruptions.
However, this does not suggest that one group endures mental health issues while the other deals with behavioral problems. Damour explained, "We should include the finding that boys are more likely to engage in physical fights under mental health concerns. When girls are distressed, they tend to experience anxiety and depression. Boys, on the other hand, are more likely to act out and face consequences."
Disciplinary action might be necessary in cases of substance abuse or disruptive behavior, but it's crucial to acknowledge the underlying distress. According to Damour, "When we see aggressive behavior in teenage boys, we may dismiss it as anger, but it could also stem from anxiety or depression." Icard agreed, stating, "We should be mindful that boys might exhibit substance abuse or reckless behavior when they feel disconnected from others."
"The survey revealed a disparity in the ways boys and girls perceive their mental health struggles, with girls being more likely to admit to anxiety and depression, while boys were more prone to substance abuse, fighting, and class disruptions. However, Dr. Lisa Damour warns against dismissing boys' aggressive behavior as anger, as it could stem from underlying distress related to mental health issues.
The need for wellness support among adolescents is essential, especially when navigating the unique academic and social experiences during their formative years. Kim Parker, Pew's director of social trends research, emphasized the importance of understanding each gender's needs for support during this critical life stage.
While both sexes feel pressure to achieve good grades, Michelle Icard argues that the gender gap in academic performance shouldn't be viewed as a competition but as a call to action for improving the educational system to support all students, particularly boys."
