The Importance of Social Connection for Your Teen
In preparation for our upcoming teen anxiety workshop for girls, we have been sharing about what anxiety looks like and feels like, and some tips and tricks for how to deal with it. Another super important aspect of dealing with anxiety, and any other mental health concern for that matter, is social connection with others.
Today on the blog, we'd like to share more about the importance of social connection for your teen.
With all the technology available at our fingertips, you would think that connection would be easier than ever, right? Unfortunately, this is not so. According to a recent Washington Post article, a study done by the healthcare company, Cigna, showed that young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 are the loneliest generation in America, lonelier even than the elderly.
So, what is causing this state of loneliness in our nation's youth? First off, social connection for your teen is more about quality than it is quantity. According to the Washington Post article, the Cigna study found that "people who have frequent, meaningful in-person interactions report better health and less loneliness than those who have scant face time with others" (Simmons, 2018). The key words in this statement in relation to social connection and teens are: FREQUENT, MEANINGFUL, and IN-PERSON. Our teens might have frequent contact with others through social media or through their phones, but is it meaningful and in-person? No. This is where the "quality" of interaction comes into play versus the "quantity". It's the quality of social connection for your teen that counts most.Here are some ways, according to the Washington Post article, to encourage quality connection in your teens:
Help your child prioritize self-care. A big part of this is getting enough sleep. So is having a hobby or fun activity to take your child's mind off of the things they need to accomplish.
Help your child remember that loneliness is a feeling that everyone gets sometimes. It is helpful to normalize loneliness as a feeling, and to use it as an indicator that maybe we're not balanced somewhere in our lives. The feeling of loneliness can then be used as a reminder of the importance of social connection for your teen.
Help your child understand that loneliness is a part of our culture today and that it is not his/her fault.
[embed]https://youtu.be/Og3JmYDu7JM[/embed]More than anything, it is important to remind our teens about the necessity of frequent, meaningful, in-person interactions and to model for them what that looks like within our own lives. Social connection for adults is as important as social connections for your teen. Mom, Dad, let's practice what we preach to our kids! Do your kids see you interacting with others in frequent, meaningful, and in-person ways? What better way to show the importance of social connection for your teen?
SourceSimmons, R. (2018, May 3). Why are young adults the loneliest generation in America? The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2018/05/03/why-are-young-adults-the-loneliest-generation-in-america/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.a8132636b9a8
Find out more about our upcoming Workshop for Teen Girls, specifically created by Alina to help teens with anxiety, stress of school and extra-curricular activities, navigating social relationships, and improving self esteem by filling out the form below or calling 813-434-3639.
