Feb 27, 2019, 12:48 PM
(from Pew Research Center) Anxiety and depression are on the rise among America’s youth and, whether they personally suffer from these conditions or not, seven-in-ten teens today see them as major problems among their peers. Concern about mental health cuts across gender, racial and socio-economic lines, with roughly equal shares of teens across demographic groups saying it is a significant issue in their community. Fewer teens, though still substantial shares, voice concern over bullying, drug addiction and alcohol consumption. More than four-in-ten say these are major problems affecting people their age in the area where they live, according to a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17.
When it comes to the pressures teens face, academics tops the list: 61 percent say they feel a lot of pressure to get good grades. By comparison, about three-in-ten say they feel a lot of pressure to look good and to fit in socially, while roughly one-in-five feel similarly pressured to be involved in extracurricular activities and to be good at sports. And while about half of teens see drug addiction and alcohol consumption as major problems among people their age, fewer than one-in-ten say they personally feel a lot of pressure to use drugs or drink alcohol.
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