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Adolescents & Burnout
Many people look back on their teen years as a time of extremes. Lots of things feel heightened during adolescence, from day-to-day emotions and the intensity of friendships to frustrations at school and shifting family dynamics. This has been true for a very long time, but some recent changes to the adolescent experience have led teens to feel burned out and overwhelmed before their adulthood has even begun. These newer developments include an increase in the role of technology in our lives and a shift in education towards standardized metrics for success. A recent study out of Harvard University and Indiana University examined grind culture among American teens and the role social media plays in burnout in this age group.
The study collected data from over 1,500 people between the ages of 13 and 17 in the United States. The results showed that over a quarter of American teens already report feeling burned out and over 50% experience negative pressure in at least one of six categories. Those categories include pressure to have a plan for their lives moving forward, pressure to be exceptional and have impressive achievements, pressure to look good according to mainstream trends or norms, pressure to have an active and visible social life, pressure to be available and supportive to friends, and pressure to be informed about current events and taking action to do good in the world. Pressure around a future gameplan, impressive achievements, and personal appearance stood out as the most prevalent, with the majority of respondents indicating that they feel negative pressure in each of those areas of their lives.
The study also found that the identity of the respondent made a significant difference in the level and types of pressure they experience. In general, girls and non-binary teens experience more pressure than boys, and LGBTQ+ teens experience more pressure than their straight and cisgender peers across all six categories. Young people from families with higher socioeconomic status reported higher levels of pressure related to their achievements, future plans, and appearance. Those with parents with higher education levels reported increased levels of pressure in their social life.
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The pressures that lead to burnout among adolescents are linked both to the real-world adults in their lives and to social media. In many cases, teens reported feeling the weight of expectations from parents, teachers, and coaches that they interact with regularly. Comparison to peers via social media also plays a role when teens feel that they’re not living up to what others are doing in school, through extracurriculars, or in terms of their social life. For example, they might see photos from a party they didn’t attend or make comparisons to how others look and dress. Social media and other technologies, however, also played a positive role by helping to alleviate pressure. Messaging with friends helps ground young people and gaming, especially social video games, serve as a release valve for many teenagers.
There are many ways to help mitigate the pressure and stress young people are feeling. The respondents in the study who reported the lowest levels of burnout also say they prioritize sleep, spend time in nature, and include unstructured time in their schedules. Focus groups in the study found that teens would like adults to recognize effort in addition to outcomes, refrain from minimizing when a young person shares about their stressors, and bring a sense of curiosity to learning about the role of social media and technology in their lives, instead of assuming it’s entirely negative.
While we can’t take away all the pressures that are negatively affecting adolescent mental health, the organizations NRF supports are working to orient young people towards finding joy in nature, building community, connecting to culture, and learning to care for themselves and others in sustainable ways. Young people are facing a difficult task as they step into adulthood. At NRF, we’re proud to support the people who are helping young people make that transition with confidence, excitement, and a sense of purpose.