Problems With Your Teenage Children
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Problems With Your Teenage Children
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Tips for Parents of Teens With Panic Disorder
How Self-Esteem Influences Risky Sexual Behavior in Teens
The Impact of Early Puberty on Kids' Mental Health
Do You Know the Signs of Clinical Depression?
Parents Should Look for the Signs of Depression in Their Teens
How to Help Your Teen Ease the Transition Back to School
Understanding Teens Dealing With ADHD
Does Your Teen Seem Depressed? Here's How to Help
Teaching Your Kids to Let You Know They’re Struggling
What to Do If You Suspect Your Teen Has a Mental Illness
Self-Help Strategies for Depressed Teens
Facts, Symptoms, and Causes of Depression in Teens
Have You Heard of This Milder Form of Bipolar Disorder?
Do You Know What Your Teen Is Up To? The Most Common Risky Teen Behaviors
Anxiety and Depression Screenings: The Need for Earlier Intervention
7 Things You Can Do Now to Prevent Your Teen From Using Marijuana
Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved
Verywell Mind is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
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Jennifer O'Donnell holds a BA in English and has training in specific areas regarding tweens, covering parenting for over 8 years.
Ann-Louise T. Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified pediatric psychologist, parent coach, author, speaker, and owner of A New Day Pediatric Psychology, PLLC.
JGI / Jamie Grill / Blend Images / Getty Images
Growing up isn't easy. It's no wonder that many adolescents face some pretty difficult challenges as they transition from childhood to adulthood, and they may respond by acting out .
Parents, teachers, and other adults can help teens by being supportive and setting fair limits. Of course, it's also important to identify the types of issues teens often face. These teen troubles are common, but not inevitable. If you are worried about your child, start by observing their behavior and seeking to identify what's happening.
There are many ways in which teens express themselves. For some, it's through risk-taking. Risk-taking is common among both tweens (kids aged 10 to 12) and teens (kids age 13 to 19), largely because kids this age tend to believe that they are invincible.
Risk-taking manifests in many different ways. For some teens, that might include binge drinking , having sex, driving recklessly, and taking other chances with their safety.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1 in 10 teens ages 16 and 17 reported binge drinking in 2019. 1
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco are the substances that are most commonly used by teens. 2 However, adolescents also use prescription drugs, inhalants, and other illicit substances. Early warning signs of alcohol and substance use include: 3
Being able to recognize signs that your child is using alcohol, drugs, or engaging in other risky behaviors can help you address the problem sooner rather than later.
Depression and anxiety can affect children and adults, and in both cases, it can be a difficult and challenging obstacle. Children who are depressed often pull away from friends, have trouble sleeping, 4 or change their eating habits, 5 among other symptoms (some of which may be different from those you see in adults with depression ).
If you suspect that your child may have depression or anxiety, talk to their pediatrician about diagnosis and treatment.
If your child is experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, their doctor will conduct an evaluation and look for any medical problem that might be contributing to these symptoms. Your doctor may then recommend treatments or refer your teen to a mental health professional for further evaluation and treatment.
In addition to getting your teen the professional help they need, encourage them to try self-help strategies like exercising, eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and spending time with friends.
For obese and overweight children, life can sometimes be extra tough. Youth who struggle with weight often face social issues and may have trouble fitting in. They also have higher rates of depression and other behavior problems.
If your child is overweight, be aware of the risk it poses to their self-esteem. Offer assistance in helping your child overcome their weight issues, as well as any other challenges that may accompany them.
Depression and anxiety can contribute to obesity since changes in appetite and activity levels are common with both conditions. 6 Kids who are dealing with symptoms of depression may feel too fatigued to be physically active and may eat more than they normally would. Getting them help for any underlying mental health issues may be the first step to improving their physical health, too.
For many teens, self-esteem—or the lack thereof—can be a huge problem. Poor self-esteem is associated with a number of negative consequences that can influence teen development at the transition into young adulthood, including disordered eating, depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide. 7
Research also suggests that these early self-esteem struggles may have long-lasting consequences. Low self-esteem during adolescence is linked to lower educational status, increased financial difficulties, increased unemployment, and poorer physical and mental well-being in adulthood. 8
There are many ways to help your child build healthy self-esteem. It's important to be positive and encouraging. It's also just as important to give them opportunities to both succeed and fail. Be sure to point out that you do not expect perfection from your child—you just want them to give it a try and do their best.
Excessive unsupervised free time can sometimes lead teens into trouble. This doesn't mean that every moment of your child's life needs to be booked with scheduled activities, classes, or events. In fact, research has shown that having less structured time is important for the development of critical skills, including self-directedness and self-regulation . 9
But your child should be aware of your expectations for them and understand that certain behaviors are off-limits, no matter what. Establishing rules and boundaries, providing good supervision, and communicating with your child can help keep them on track.
If your teen is experiencing any of these challenges, it's important to step in. Your teen needs your support and assistance as they navigate adolescence.
The first thing to do is open up a line of communication with your child. This doesn't mean peppering your child with questions—an approach that can often backfire at this age—but rather, being direct when it seems appropriate. In other cases, just set aside time to spend with your child.
Listen to what they have to say and talk about the things that they want to discuss. Try to avoid being overly judgmental and don't dismiss their feelings.
Even if you talk to your child often, you should always stay alert for the signs and symptoms of a problem. While it's important to avoid overreacting, since kids this age can be more dramatic and moody, these behaviors should be cause for concern:
If your child is having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database .
If your child's behavior or comments concern you, get help from a mental health professional. Your child's doctor or school guidance counselor can help connect you to mental health care and resources.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Underage drinking .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teen substance use & risks .
Ali S, Mouton CP, Jabeen S, et al. Early detection of illicit drug use in teenagers . Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(12):24-8.
Clarke G, Harvey AG. The complex role of sleep in adolescent depression . Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am . 2012;21(2):385-400. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2012.01.006
Khanna P, Chattu VK, Aeri BT. Nutritional aspects of depression in adolescents - a systematic review . Int J Prev Med . 2019;10:42. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_400_18
McClure AC, Tanski SE, Kingsbury J, Gerrard M, Sargent JD. Characteristics associated with low self-esteem among US adolescents . Acad Pediatr. 2010;10(4):238-44.e2. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2010.03.007
Trzesniewski KH, Donnellan MB, Moffitt TE, Robins RW, Poulton R, Caspi A. Low self-esteem during adolescence predicts poor health, criminal behavior, and limited economic prospects during adulthood . Dev Psychol . 2006;42(2):381-90. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.42.2.381
Barker JE, Semenov AD, Michaelson L, Provan LS, Snyder HR, Munakata Y. Less-structured time in children's daily lives predicts self-directed executive functioning . Front Psychol . 2014;5:593. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00593
Maughan B, Collishaw S, Stringaris A. Depression in childhood and adolescence . J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry . 2013;22(1):35-40.
Sheftall AH, Asti L, Horowitz LM, et al. Suicide in elementary school-aged children and early adolescents . Pediatrics . 2016;138(4) doi:10.1542/peds.2016-0436
By Jennifer O'Donnell
Jennifer O'Donnell holds a BA in English and has training in specific areas regarding tweens, covering parenting for over 8 years.
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10 Social Issues and Problems That Trouble Today's Teens
Verywell Family's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved
Verywell Family content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more .
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Verywell Family's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved
Verywell Family is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Review our Privacy Policy
Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, international bestselling author and host of the The Verywell Mind Podcast.
Andrea Rice is an award-winning journalist and a freelance writer, editor, and fact-checker specializing in health and wellness.
Social issues are problems that affect large groups of people and can affect how well a society functions. Teens can face social problems just like adults can. They may even be more susceptible to these challenges because their brains are still developing and their bodies are changing quickly. Social issues and what we might think of as "teenage problems" can affect emotional and physical health.
Advances in technology also mean that today's teens are facing new and different social issues. Electronic media has changed or amplified some teenage troubles: Digital communication has changed the way teens interact with their peers and romantic interests, for example. 1
Digital life also means that many teens lack essential interpersonal communication skills like knowing how to pick up on social cues. Much of this dysfunction can be linked to the use of technology 2 (but on the flip side, virtual socializing and learning were essential during the COVID-19 pandemic).
Teens' social media and texting habits are changing the way they communicate, date, learn, sleep, exercise, and more. The average teen spends over eight hours each day using electronic devices. 3
While not all social issues are linked to technology, many have complicated relationships with tech and media use. These are the top 10 social issues teens struggle with every day.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 4.1 million adolescents in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in 2020. That means 17% of American teenagers may experience depression before reaching adulthood . Data from NIMH also shows that depression is much more prevalent in female teens (25.2%) than male teens (9.2%) and among teens who reported two or more races (29.9%). 4
Spending too much time on electronic devices may be preventing young people from in-person activities with their peers, such as sports, which can help ward off depression. 5 They also experience new conditions like "fear of missing out" or FOMO , which further leads to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Depressive disorders are treatable, but it's important to seek professional help. If your teen seems withdrawn, experiences a change in sleep patterns, or starts to perform badly in school, schedule an appointment with your teen's physician or contact a mental health professional. Do not delay getting help for your teen if you notice these symptoms.
About 22% of teens in the U.S. experienced bullying in 2019, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. 6 Research suggests that social media has made bullying much more public and more pervasive. Cyberbullying has replaced bullying as the most common type of harassment that teens experience. 7
To help guard against these kinds of teenage troubles, talk to your teen about bullying regularly. Discuss what they can do when they witness bullying and talk about options if they become a target themselves. Being proactive is key to helping your child deal with a bully.
It's also important to talk to your child about when and how to get help from an adult. Talking about how someone has humiliated them is never an easy topic. But asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it's a show of courage.
In the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) survey, 38% of high school students reported that they had ever had sex; 27.4% said they were currently sexually active. That represents a decline over the past decade (46% had ever had sex in 2009; 34% were currently sexually active). 8
The teen birth rate has declined over the past decade as well. In 2020, the teen birth rate was 15.4 (births for every 1,000 females ages 15-19), a decline of 8% from 2019 and 75% from the 1991 peak of 61.8. These teen births accounted for less than 5% of total births. 9
The decline in pregnancy doesn't necessarily mean teens are using contraceptives, however. Just over half of sexually active teens reported using a condom in their last sexual encounter, according to YRBSS data, while about 31% used hormonal birth control and 9% used both. 8
Of the 26 million new sexually transmitted infections in 2018, more than half were among young people between the ages of 15 and 24. 10
Parents may not be aware that their children are sexually active. Talk to your teen about sex and the importance of safe sex practices, even if you don't think your child is engaging in sexual activity.
In 2021, about 3% of teens surveyed (in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades) reported using marijuana daily. Marijuana use exceeds cigarette use in teens now, and is at its . 11 In fact, many teens believe marijuana is less harmful now than in years past. This new perception may be due to the changing laws surrounding marijuana.
Teen use of other substances is declining, according to the Monitoring the Future Survey published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. While this decline has been noted since the survey began in 1975, decreases in 2021 were "steep and atypical." 11
Still, it's important to have regular conversations with your teen about the dangers of drugs. And don't forget to mention the dangers of prescription drugs, too. Many teens do not recognize the dangers of taking a friend's prescription or popping a few pills that are not prescribed to them.
Teens often underestimate how easy it is to develop an addiction. And they don't understand the risks associated with overdosing. Be sure you are talking about these risks on a consistent basis.
As of 2021, alcohol use and binge drinking continued to show a significant decline among teenagers. Still, 26% of high school seniors surveyed still report drinking alcohol within the past month. 11
Talk to teens about the risks of underage drinking. Educate them about the dangers, including the fact that alcohol can take a serious toll on a teenager's developing brain. 12 Also, do not shy away from expressing your disapproval of underage drinking. Saying you don't approve can make a big difference in whether your teen decides to drink.
About 22% of 12- to 19-year-olds in the U.S. are obese, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Hispanic and Black children are more likely to be overweight or obese than White or Asian children. 13
Overweight children and teens are often tar
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