Parenting a teen is a challenging task that most parents would reckon with. It’s the time when the child starts developing his/her own set of ideas and beliefs which might be in conflict with the opinions of the parents. This might result in a tiff, leading to other problems. However, it is important to resolve the conflicts, or it might give rise to communication problems, affecting the mental health of teens.
According to a recent study, teens with receptive adults, who value the viewpoints of their children and allow them to express themselves, experienced improved mental health outcomes in terms of elevated self-image, higher level of engagement in school, self-motivation, and lesser susceptibility to depression. The findings of the study were published in the journal Child Development in October 2017.
Lead author Kristine N. Marbell-Pierre said that when teens are engaged in meaningful and two-way communication, they appear happier, academically motivated, and self-assured. She said that this type of parenting style was questionable in non-western societies with hierarchical cultures, such as Ghana, where teens need to obedient and respectful to their elders. Nevertheless, openness is helpful for teens who are made to feel that their perspective was important. However, the autonomy of taking decisions or making choices appeared to be stronger in teens from the United States compared to those from Ghana.
Improved school engagement and self-worth
The study involved 401 teenagers, out of which 245 were from the U.S. and the rest from Ghana. The children were required to answer questions like whether parents acknowledged their perspective, encouraged them to express their views and make decisions. In addition, teens were also assessed in terms of what they thought about parental control, the extent of academic motivation, self-realization if they suffered from depression, and how they perceived themselves (as an independent unit or a single entity with parents).
The teens from both regions displayed parity in terms of school engagement, self-assurance, motivation, and low rates of depression, however, the prerogative to decide and make a choice was linked with positive outcomes in the U.S. and not in Ghana, due to the varied cultures.
Improving teen mental health should be a priority
Teen years are marked by a lot of changes in a child’s life. Significant changes, such as the onset of puberty, widening of friend circle, worrying about peer acceptance, the pressure of fulfilling parental expectations, harassment by seniors or friends, and increasing demands of academics, increase the risk of substance use and mental disorders. While some of it may be a part of growing up, not all can be ignored.
Parenting a teenager is sometimes like walking on eggshells. In case a parent is not able to establish a healthy dialogue with the child, maybe it is about time to look deeper and resolve some underlying issues, which might hamper the child’s development and impact his or her adult life. If teens refrain from sharing problems or if parents are unable to understand the problems, seeking professional help can be the best option. It can help in recognizing any mental health distress in a teenager.