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Nature Contact and Philanthropic Practices Help Reduce Stress
Young people in the U.S. face a lot of pressure. A recent report using data from Harvard researchers shows that American teens experience pressure in six different categories: pressure to have a plan for their next steps in life, pressure to impress others through their achievements, pressure to look or present in a certain way, pressure to have an active and visible social life, pressure to be available to friends, and pressure to be informed about and active on important issues. These pressures have some positive outcomes. They can lead teens to be engaged at school, support their friends, and get involved in their community. Ongoing elevated stress levels related to these pressures also have negative effects. Over one quarter of teens in the study said they were actively struggling with feelings of burnout. These outcomes are not evenly distributed. Girls and non-binary teenagers demonstrated higher feelings of pressure than boys and LGBTQ+ teens also showed higher levels of stress in all categories.
The report outlines the role of social media in this issue. While social media can worsen pressure on teenagers, it can also have a mitigating effect in certain scenarios. Not surprisingly, apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok can exacerbate pressure to conform to specific types of physical appearance and pressure to have an active social life. Messaging and social gaming apps, however, seem to play an important role in helping teens form community and feel connected to their peers. In particular, social gaming in particular is an important outlet for many young people. Research has shown that social gaming can reduce stress and act as an escape from daily pressures of school, family, and work. Online communities also help teens with marginalized identities find connection and support outside of their immediate surroundings.
Additional practices exist that are proven to mitigate the impact of stress. One of these is spending time in nature. Regular contact with greenspace can help regulate both the physical symptoms and emotional experience of stress. Something as simple as sitting or walking outside for 20 to 30 minutes has a huge impact on wellbeing if it becomes a regular practice. Spending time outdoors, however, is not as straightforward as it may seem. Many young people do not have access to safe greenspace in their communities. Introducing greenspace in schools is one way to help young people better access the stress relieving properties of nature, but greenways and neighborhood parks are also important resources for young people to connect with nature and get away from daily pressures. Another important practice for preventing burnout and relieving stress is engaging in philanthropic activities. Altruism releases endorphins, which boosts wellbeing and lowers cortisol levels, which reduces anxiety. While some forms of altruism, like donating money, aren’t feasible for everyone, volunteering time with a local organization or helping out neighbors are great ways to build philanthropic practices into daily life.
Philanthropic practices and time in nature are not silver bullet solutions to the problem of chronic stress among youth. They are part of a constellation of practices that can mitigate the pressures young people feel every day. As adults, it is our duty to help protect and promote access to natural spaces, so they are available for the enjoyment and wellbeing of generations to come.