More about real teen

When I talk to parents about my research on teens and technology, their questions often boil down to this: Is it bad for my teen to be spending so much time on electronic devices? Recently, several analyses have said that the research on this front is a mess or that there is no connection to mental health. In fact, four large studies of teens from the U. Twice as many heavy users of electronic devices are unhappy , depressed or distressed as light users. So why the confusion? Often, this minimizes the association between a factor and an outcome — especially an uncommon outcome.

Are you? Both parties feel angry, helpless and confused. Talking is supposed to work, right? Communicating with teenagers is a skill we could all stand to to fine-tune. It seems like the most natural way to start a conversation. Instead, hang around them in a non-demanding or -threatening way before saying anything. In all family relationships, there are bound to be conflicts.

Part of the Teen Rebellion Series. The topic of teen rebellion usually triggers some kind of emotional response. It can ignite fear in the hearts of parents who have children on the brink of adolescence; it can prompt both defensiveness and despair in the hearts of parents struggling through the teen years; and it can inspire a sigh of relief for parents who now have adult children. Whether your teen is opposing your authority or God's, rebellion is never easy to deal with. Get the straight talk on parenting.

Jean Twenge does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under Creative Commons licence. The first signs of a problem started to emerge around More young people said they felt overwhelmed and depressed. College counseling centers reported sharp increases in the number of students seeking treatment for mental health issues. Others suggested young people were simply more willing to get help when they needed it.