Teen Health

1 in 4 parents say their teen consumes caffeine every day or nearly every day. 2 in 3 parents think they know whether their teen is consuming too much caffeine. 1 in 3 parents do not identify recommended caffeine limits for teens.

1 in 5 parents consider if their child in middle or high school needs a mental health day when deciding whether they’re too sick to go to school. 1 in 4 parents think school attendance policies make it difficult for children with medical conditions. 2 in 3 parents say their child in middle or high school worries about the impact on grades if they are absent from school.

Over half of parents do not know their state’s legal age for online betting. 1 in 4 parents have talked with their teen about online gambling. 1 in 6 parents think they would probably not know if their teen was betting online.

Parents cite logistical factors (schedule, convenience) as top factors in deciding whether a job is appropriate for their teen. Among parents of teens with a formal job, nearly half report their teen has experienced workplace problems. Less than 1 in 3 parents feel very informed about state laws for teen employment.

Vaping is hard to detect, yet half of parents think they would definitely know if their child was vaping. 4 of 5 parents think their child understands the health risks of vaping. About half of parents support suspension from school or school activities if their child was caught vaping at school.

9 in 10 parents think teens can believe in God or a higher power without being involved in organized religion. Only 1 in 3 parents say their teen attends religious services regularly. 3 in 4 parents believe participating in religious services helps teens connect with their family history and traditions.

2 out of 3 parents say their child is self-conscious about some aspect of their appearance. 1 in 5 parents say their teens avoid things like being in photos due to being self-conscious about their appearance. 1 in 3 parents say their child has been treated unkindly because of their appearance.

Only four in ten parents say their adolescent's primary care provider asks about mental health concerns at all check-ups. More than one in four parents report their adolescent has ever had a visit or appointment with a mental health specialist. Nearly half of parents whose adolescent had a mental health visit reported difficulties getting care.

3 in 4 parents say COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their teens being able to interact with friends. 1 in 3 teen girls and 1 in 5 teen boys have experienced new or worsening anxiety since March 2020. Half of parents have relaxed family rules to allow their teen more contact with friends.

1 in 3 parents definitely support having a mental health program like peer support leaders at their teen's school. 2 in 3 parents would allow their teen to be trained as a peer support leader. Parent concerns about peer support leaders include confidentiality, training, and identifying crisis situations.