Why Gen Z’s Mental Health Should Be Every Parent’s Concern

In the past 20 or so years, an entirely new world has developed around us. Life has become much more complex with so many things taking place at the same time. Technology has been the driving force of this change with people becoming more and more reliant on the devices around them. With more opportunities, there are more distractions as well. The task of raising children in this era has become a tedious task for the same reason. Everything is too damn complex! In this article, we will be focusing on Generation Z or Gen Z, the challenges faced by their parents and what can be the solutions for these issues. 

Read More: Understanding “Main Character Energy” in Gen Z

What is Gen-Z?

Generation Z, or Gen Z, is the first true digital native, born between 1997 and 2012. They have grown up with smartphones, social media, and instant access to information. This generation is diverse, socially conscious, and values individuality, but its unique upbringing brings along challenges. They experience unprecedented mental health issues fuelled by the pressures of social media comparison and academic scrutiny.

They live amidst the issues of climate change and economic uncertainty and are bombarded by digital misinformation. But, amazingly, this generation of youth seems to thrive. The youth is the most significant and optimistic driver for social change, leveraging the power of technology and innovation. Technology has played a big part here as this generation is chronically online. 

Read More: Millennials vs. Gen Z: How Are They Different?

Strengths of Gen Z

• Critical Thinkers: They seek evidence before accepting something to be true. For the same reason, religion is finding it difficult to establish itself among the younger ones since they prefer knowing things rather than believing in them. 
• Value Relationships: They put a value on meaningful relationships and the inclusion and acceptance of people. Excluding people has become out of fashion!
• Pragmatism: They are realistic and practical in the way they approach life and problems. Everything is looked at rationally rather than emotionally.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: They are innovators, keen on creating innovative ways to change their lives.
• Loathe for Hypocrisy: They refuse to follow authority blindly because they value truthfulness.

Weaknesses of Gen Z

• Relativism: They often perceive truth and morality as being subjective.
• Conflict Avoidance: Reluctant to challenge others, even if they must grow.
• Fear of Judgment: Their strong sense of authenticity may make them shun conflict or judgment.
• Compassion Instead of Principle: Their emphasis on acceptance may blind them to moral principles.
• Anchored in Hope: They could lack a steady foundation for hope or purpose in their life, such as faith or spirituality.

Challenges faced by parents today

1. Balancing freedom and restriction: With the outside world becoming more and more crime-ridden with news of murders, rapes and racial attacks becoming common, some parents are hesitant to give their kids the freedom to be on their own. It needs to be balanced as too much freedom can be risky whereas too little of it can hinder a child’s social and psychological growth. 
2. Managing screen time and technology: With the internet providing unrestricted access to the content of every possible domain, children nowadays are exposed to more information than ever before. This is a point of major concern for parents as there is a dark side to the web as well with pornography and gore being abundant. Cyberbullying has also come up as a new problem in the last decade or so with children getting 
3. Overprotection: In order to shield their children from suffering and disappointment and to ensure their success, ‘helicopter parents’ closely monitor their children’s activities and academic performance. They have a reputation for micromanaging their kids and getting deeply involved in every part of their lives.

Studies suggest that overprotective parenting may lead to moral disengagement among children, potentially stifling their moral courage (Evans & Karl, 2021). This raises concerns about the long-term implications of such parenting styles, as Gen Z will soon enter the workforce and face ethical dilemmas. Therefore, parents need to encourage independence and critical thinking, allowing their children to navigate challenges and develop their moral compass.

Read More: Helicopter Parenting: Impact on Kids’ Independence and Self-Esteem

Talking about ODD

Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) has become prevalent among young children. This disorder refers to not complying with authority figures. It is more commonly found in boys compared to girls. Preschool is typically when ODD symptoms first appear. It almost always appears before the early adolescent years; however, it can occasionally appear later. Defiant and oppositional actions are common and persistent. For the child and the family, they lead to serious issues with relationships, social activities, school, and employment.

The preferred treatment for oppositional defiant disorder is family-based therapy. Other forms of talk therapy and training for both parents and children may be part of the treatment, though. Treatment typically lasts for a few months or more. If left untreated, additional issues like a learning disability or mental health illness can come up or create symptoms of ODD, therefore it’s important to address them as well. Generally speaking, ODD cannot be treated with medications alone unless the child also has another mental illness. Medication may help relieve the symptoms if the child also suffers from depression, anxiety problems, or ADHD.

Read More: The Subtle Ways GenZ Is Redefining Work Culture (Psychologists Weigh In)

How can parents work around these issues?

The task of parenting has been monumental for a long time but with the world drastically changing around us, it has become exponentially more difficult. However, psychologists around the world have a few suggestions that can help parents manage their kids and support their overall development along with ensuring their safety:

1. Being involved and active

In earlier times, parents weren’t too keen to spend quality time with their children. Work was given all the priority while the children were left to raise themselves. In the modern era where work has become more flexible and people are becoming more financially secure, parents should give their children some of their time. It is necessary as children who form strong bonds with their parents are more likely to psychologically resilient in the future and can form healthy relationships later on. Effective parent-child connection is associated with less stress during parenting, which benefits kids’ executive functioning and general development (Cock et al., 2017). This implies that parents are better able to give their kids the assistance they need to grow up when they feel safe and attached to them.

2. Prioritize Mental Health

Psychological issues have been ignored in children for quite some time now. In the early days, it was believed to be the work of some demon or something similar. Now we know that mental disorders have environmental and biological causes behind them. We also have appropriate treatment plans laid out for such children. If a child is facing issues with motor skills, education or something in the social domain, parents are highly encouraged to meet a psychologist who specializes in child care. 

3. Handle technology properly

It is easy to take away electronics from children and devoid them of any online presence. However, it is important to acknowledge that the world is becoming more digital by the day. Having skills such as graphic designing, coding or even gaming are well sought after by employers across the world. Parents can promote these skills while ensuring that their child isn’t looking at inappropriate content by employing child safety software which is easily available in the market. 

Read More: Positive Parenting for Working Parents: Skills and challenges

Conclusion

Raising Generation Z is both amazingly rewarding and challenging in this fast-paced, technologically advanced world. The digital natives are Gen Z, which means they have certain abilities and viewpoints that can contribute toward creating a brighter future. However, they also face severe challenges, such as mental health issues, social media pressures, and an increasingly complex world that keeps changing.

Parents need to understand these challenges and adopt empathy, flexibility, and open communication. Gen Z may thrive if encouraged with critical thinking, emotional resilience, and balancing technology with in-person interactions. Equally important is to lead by example and provide a solid moral foundation that will help them through life’s challenges.