Parents Worry Most About These 10 Things As Kids Go Back To School

Back-to-school stress isn’t just for kids.

Seventy-five percent of parents of children 1-18 who responded to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health said they worry about the effect social media will have on their kids’ wellbeing. Two closely related topics also weigh heavily on their minds — too much screen time and use of devices (75 percent) and internet safety (66 percent), according to the poll.

The poll, which registered 2,021 responses from randomly selected parents, was conducted in February by Ipsos Public Affairs for tUniversity of Michigan Health System’s children’s hospital. Parents were presented an array of child health topics and asked to rank their top concerns.

Concerns about social media and internet use correlate closely with what parents see as declining physical and mental health. Overall, 69 percent of parents think the physical health of U.S. children and teens is declining, and 83 percent think their mental health is getting worse.

“These concerns from parents reflect a growing awareness that today’s children are facing increasing challenges impacting both their physical and mental health,” Dr. Susan Woolford, a pediatrician at Mott Children’s Hospital and poll co-director, said in a news release.

“Parents continue to express concern about the pervasive role of technology in their children’s lives,” she added. “Excessive screen time and social media exposure are linked to poor sleep, less physical activity, and negative mental health outcomes, including anxiety, low self-esteem, and unhealthy social comparisons.”

Moms And Dads Have Different Worries

Parents’ worry about technology varies depending on their children’s age, Woolford said

“Those with younger kids often focus on screen time and its potential impact on attention and learning,” she said. “Meanwhile, parents of teens are more likely to worry about how social media affects self-image, peer pressure, and worldview.”

The poll showed moms and dads worry about different things, with mothers more likely than fathers to rate mental health as a major issue.

“Mothers often take on the role of emotional caretakers in the family, which may make them more attuned to shifts in their children’s moods or behavior,” Woolford said. “They may also be more likely to talk to their children about their feelings.”

Mothers were also more likely than fathers to rate topics such as bullying, school violence and child exploitation as top concerns.

Nutrition, Physical Activity Top Concerns

Nearly every parent polled said at least one of the topics they were asked about were major concerns for children and teens, and nearly two-thirds rated 10 or more topics as a big problem.

Woolford explained their views are formed both by their experiences with their children and others in the community, but also by what they’ve read or heard from secondhand sources.

Most parents’ worries surround their children’s nutrition and level of exercise. While they understand how foundational healthy eating and regular exercise are to a child’s overall well-being, they’re unsure how to help them make healthy choices, Woolford said.

“Concerns about nutrition likely reflect the challenges of finding healthy food options that are accessible, affordable and acceptable to kids. Parents may face similar issues with helping their children to be physically active,” she added.

More than half said gun violence is a top issue, followed closely by fears of child abduction and sex traffic and the use of alcohol and drugs.

Systemic challenges, including the lack of mental health services, poverty, and child abuse or neglect were a top concern for two in five respondents.

Also listed as a big problem were parental stress, the spread of false or misleading health information, teen pregnancy or sexual activity, discrimination based on race or gender identity, worsening air and water quality, and the safety of the food supply.

More than a third of parents were also worried about unequal access to health care and close to three-fifths rated the cost of health care and health insurance for children as a big problem. Those worries could mount for U.S. families as policy changes related to Medicaid take effect, Woolford said.

“Consistent access to healthcare is critical, especially when providers can help families manage the physical, mental, and social issues kids are facing today,” she said.

The Top 10

The leading topics parents rate as a big problem for kids are:

1. Social media (75 percent)
2. Too much screen time/use of devices (75 percent)
3. Internet safety (66 percent)
4. Unhealthy diet (62 percent)
5. Child/teen mental health (62 percent)
6. Cost of healthcare/health insurance (56 percent)
7. Obesity (56 percent)
8. Smoking/vaping (56 percent)
9. Bullying (54 percent)
10. School violence (54 percent)

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