Endnotes
INTRODUCTION
xvi.… the earlier a child is given a smartphone, the more significantly they are impacted by poor mental health …
Sapien Labs (2023) Age of First Smartphone/Tablet and Mental Wellbeing Outcomes. as quoted in Jon Haidt’s After Babel Substack.
xviii. However, some research suggests that with digital natives, it is closer to 30 …
van Blooijs, D., van den Boom, M.A., van der Aar, J.F. et al. Developmental trajectory of transmission speed in the human brain. Nat Neurosci 26, 537–541 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01272-0
xviii. I remember a conversation with Associate Professor Mat Coleman …
ABC & Maggie Dent (2021, June 8). How to talk about suicide with children [Audio podcast episode]. Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
PART 1: WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING FOR TODAY’S TEENS?
Anxiety – Australia
4. According to self-reported data …
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020-2022). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. ABS.
Also: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (25 June 2021) ‘Australia’s youth: Mental illness’ web article. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/mental-illness
4. Two in five females (40.4 percent) …
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020-2022). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. ABS.
4. In the LGBTQIA+ populations …
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020-2022). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. ABS.
4. A WA-based report …
Commissioner for Children and Young People WA 2021, Exploring the decline in wellbeing for Australian girls. Commissioner for Children and Young People WA
4. In an Australian longitudinal study …
Terhaag. S, Quinn. B, Swami. N, Daraganova. G. Australian Institute of Family Studies, Mental Health of Australian Males: depression, suicidality and loneliness, September 2020,
5. Untreated anxiety disorders have been linked …
Parodi, K. B., Holt, M. K., Green, J. G., Porche, M. V., Koenig, B., & Xuan, Z. (2022). Time trends and disparities in anxiety among adolescents, 2012-2018. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 57(1), 127–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02122-9
Anxiety – USA/CANADA
5. The National Institute of Mental Health reports …
and Around 8 per cent of young people …
Data from the National Comorbidity Study Replication (NCS-R) reported at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
5. Seventy per cent of 13–17-year-olds …
Pew Research Center, February 2019, “Most U.S. Teens See Anxiety and Depression as a Major Problem Among Their Peers”.
5. Between 2008 and 2018 …
Child Mind Institute. Understanding Anxiety in Children and Teens. 2018 Children’s Mental Health Report. childmind.org/2018report
Anxiety – United Kingdom
5. There is evidence of increasing anxiety and depression …
Office for National Statistics. Young people’s well-being in the UK: 2020. Statistical bulletin. (2 October 2020).
5. The UK Mental Health Foundation reports …
From: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/anxiety-statistics Source: ONS. (2021). Depression or anxiety in adults, Great Britain: 22 September to 3 October 2021. Retrieved from https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/mentalhealth/adhocs/13844depressionoranxietyinadultsgreatbritain22septemberto3october2021 [Accessed 11/04/2023]
5. One in six children aged 5–16 …
Office for National Statistics. Young people’s well-being in the UK: 2020. Statistical bulletin. (2 October 2020).
6. A 2023 survey of 6,000 UK adults …
Mental Health Foundation. Uncertain Times: Anxiety in the UK and how to tackle it. 2023.
6. Half (50 per cent) of LGBTQIA+ …
Just like Us. Growing up LGBT+: The impact of school, home and coronavirus on LGBT+ young people. June 2021. justlikeus.org
Depression – Australia
6. Beyond Blue reports …
Reported at https://www.beyondblue.org.au/media/statistics
6. One in seven young people …
Lawrence, D., Johnson, S., Hafekost, J., Boterhoven De Haan, K,, Sawyer, M., Ainley, J., Zubrick, S.R. (2015) The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents. Report on the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Department of Health, Canberra.
6. 38.8 per cent of people aged 16–24 …
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020-2022). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. ABS.
6. Young females were twice as likely …
Commissioner for Children and Young People WA (2020), Data Insights: Female students’ views on their wellbeing, ccyp.wa.gov.au
6. Female young people are …
Lawrence, D., Johnson, S., Hafekost, J., Boterhoven De Haan, K,, Sawyer, M., Ainley, J., Zubrick, S.R. (2015) The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents. Report on the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Department of Health, Canberra.
6. In 2015, 19.6 per cent of Australian females …
Lawrence, D., Johnson, S., Hafekost, J., Boterhoven De Haan, K,, Sawyer, M., Ainley, J., Zubrick, S.R. (2015) The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents. Report on the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Department of Health, Canberra.
7. An Australian survey of LGBTQIA+ …
Hill, A.O., Lyons, A., Jones, J., McGowan, I., Carman, M., Parsons, M., Power, J., Bourne, A. (2021) Writing Themselves In 4: The health and wellbeing of LGBTQA+ young people in Australia. National report, monograph series number 124. Melbourne: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University. (6), 1892-1913.
7. Three in 10 people who identify as LGBTQIA+ …
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020-2022). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. ABS.
7. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 …
Black Dog Institute (2022). Turning the tide on depression: A vision that starts with Australia’s youth. Sydney, AU: Black Dog Institute
7. Indeed, some evidence indicates it is worsening, especially for adolescent First Nations girls …
Black Dog Institute (2022). Turning the tide on depression: A vision that starts with Australia’s youth. Sydney, AU: Black Dog Institute
7. According to the 2023 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing …
Black Dog Institute (2022). Turning the tide on depression: A vision that starts with Australia’s youth. Sydney, AU: Black Dog Institute
7. The Black Dog Institute conducted a rapid review and meta-analysis …
Black Dog Institute (2022). Turning the tide on depression: A vision that starts with Australia’s youth. Sydney, AU: Black Dog Institute
7. An Australian Psychological Survey of 1,000 psychologists …
Australian Psychological Society. (27 November 2022). Children 18 months to 18 years show serious mental health issues, APS survey reveals. Media Release. psychology.org.au
Depression – USA/Canada
8. Over one in 10 young people in the US are experiencing depression …
Reinert, M., Fritze, D. & Nguyen, T. (2022, October). ‘The State of Mental Health in America 2023‘. Mental Health America, Alexandria VA.
8. 16.39 per cent of 12–17-year-olds report suffering from at least one major depressive episode …
Reinert, M., Fritze, D. & Nguyen, T. (2022, October). ‘The State of Mental Health in America 2023‘. Mental Health America, Alexandria VA.
8. 11.5 per cent of the same age group are experiencing severe …
Reinert, M., Fritze, D. & Nguyen, T. (2022, October). ‘The State of Mental Health in America 2023‘. Mental Health America, Alexandria VA.
8. In 2019, 13 per cent of adolescents reported having a major depressive …
Richtel, M. (2022, April 23 ). ‘It’s Life or Death’: The Mental Health Crisis Among U.S. Teens. The New York Times.
8. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey showed …
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011–2021.
Depression – United Kingdom
8. In 2009, just 9 per cent of 16–25-year-olds disagreed …
Booth, R. (2019, February 5). Anxiety on the rise among the young in social media age. The Guardian.
8. In a survey of more than 2,000 young people …
Booth, R. (2019, February 5). Anxiety on the rise among the young in social media age. The Guardian.
Depression – New Zealand
8. The Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey of 7,721 Year 9 to Year 13 …
Fleming, T., Peiris-John, R., Crengle, S., Archer, D., Sutcliffe, K., Lewycka, S., & Clark, T. (2020). Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey, Initial Findings: Introduction and Methods. The Youth19 Research Group, The University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
9. The proportion of high-school students reporting significant depressive symptoms …
Fleming, T., Peiris-John, R., Crengle, S., Archer, D., Sutcliffe, K., Lewycka, S., & Clark, T. (2020). Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey, Initial Findings: Introduction and Methods. The Youth19 Research Group, The University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
10…the largest tech companies in the world have deliberately created algorithms that marinate us in more negative content …
See for example Hari, J. (2023). Stolen focus: Why you can’t pay attention–and how to think deeply again. London: Bloomsbury.
11. Overall, in a recent research study that…
Ball, J., Grucza, R., Livingston, M., ter Bogt, T., Currie, C., de Looze, M. (2023). The great decline in adolescent risk behaviours: Unitary trend, separate trends, or cascade?, Social Science & Medicine, Volume 317, 115616, ISSN 0277-9536, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115616.
11. In a comprehensive study …
Ball, J., Grucza, R., Livingston, M., ter Bogt, T., Currie, C., de Looze, M. (2023). The great decline in adolescent risk behaviours: Unitary trend, separate trends, or cascade?, Social Science & Medicine, Volume 317, 115616, ISSN 0277-9536, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115616.
12. For example, research is very strong around the influence of driving at night with friends…
‘Driving Under the Influence of Friends is Risky for Teens’ (2015). Association for Psychological Science.
12. There has been a significant decline over the last 10 years in face-to-face socialising …
Twenge, J. M., Spitzberg, B. H., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). Less in-person social interaction with peers among US adolescents in the 21st century and links to loneliness. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(6), 1892-1913.
13. Much is written about the ‘displacement effect’ of the digital world…
A good summary of this research can be found in: Oswald, T.K., Kohler, M., Rumbold, A.R., Kedzior, S.G.E., Moore, V.M. The acute psychological effects of screen time and the restorative potential of nature immersion amongst adolescents: A randomised pre-post pilot study, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Volume 92, 2023,102183, ISSN 0272-4944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102183.
13. Several studies showed that heavy Internet users …
See for example: Alaçam, H. & Ateşci, F.Ç., Şengül, A.C. & Tumkaya, S. (2015). The relationship between smoking and alcohol use and Internet addiction among the university students. Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi. 16. 383-388. 10.5455/apd.172340.
Or Lee, B.H. and Lee, H.K. (2017). Longitudinal study shows that addictive internet use during adolescence was associated with heavy drinking and smoking cigarettes in early adulthood. Acta Paediatrica, 106(3), pp. 497–502. doi:10.1111/apa.13706.
13.One study hypothesised …
Halkjelsvik, T., Brunborg, G. & Bye, E. (2020). Are changes in binge drinking among European adolescents driven by changes in computer gaming?. Drug and Alcohol Review. 40. 10.1111/dar.13226.
13. Even before the pandemic, research showed there was a significant decrease in the amount of unstructured time spent among teen friends…
Twenge, J. M., Spitzberg, B. H., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). Less in-person social interaction with peers among US adolescents in the 21st century and links to loneliness. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(6), 1892-1913.
13. Jean Twenge’s research has shown that the more teens use social media …
See previous entry but also Jean Twenge’s books, iGen and Generations.
14. The last 20 years has seen a massive decline in risky play …
See the work of Tim Gill and Peter Gray for more on this.
15. Some scholars and researchers have proposed that a decline in risky behaviours …
Ball, J., Grucza, R., Livingston, M., ter Bogt, T., Currie, C., de Looze, M. (2023). The great decline in adolescent risk behaviours: Unitary trend, separate trends, or cascade?, Social Science & Medicine, Volume 317, 115616, ISSN 0277-9536, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115616.
CHAPTER 1: THE BIOLOGICAL DRIVERS
18. More recently, we’ve come to understand that GABA …
Gillespie, D. (2019). Teen Brain: Why screens are making your teenager depressed, anxious and prone to lifelong addictive illnesses – and how to stop it now. Sydney: Pan MacMillan Australia.
27. One evolutionary biologist …
Bainbridge, D. & Neufeld, G. (2009). Teenagers: A Natural History. Vancouver, Canada: Greystone Books.
28. Research shows that 90 per cent of teens …
Worsley, L. (2015). The resilience doughnut: The secret of strong kids (Vol. 1). Australian eBook Publisher.
30. There is no doubt that puberty is happening earlier, especially with girls …
Several studies show this, including: Herman-Giddens, M.E., Slora, E.J., Wasserman, R.C., Bourdony, C.J., Bhapkar, M.V., Koch, G.G. and Hasemeier, C.M. (1997). Secondary Sexual Characteristics and Menses in Young Girls Seen in Office Practice: A Study from the Pediatric Research in Office Settings Network. PEDIATRICS, [online] 99(4), pp.505–512. doi:https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.99.4.505
AND Herman-Giddens M, Steffes J, Harris D, Slora E, Hussey M, & Dowshen S et al (2012). ‘Secondary Sexual Characteristics in Boys’. Pediatrics, 130(5), e1058-e1068.
31. While stepping back from parents is healthy and normal, research shows that adolescents with positive parental involvement travel better on the bumpy ride …
Several studies cover this including: Galambos, N. L., Barker, E. T., and Almeida, D. M. (2003). Parents do matter: trajectories of change in externalizing and internalizing problems in early adolescence. Child Dev. 74, 578–594. doi: 10.1111/1467-8624.7402017
CHAPTER 2: THE TEEN BRAIN: WHAT IS GOING ON UP THERE?
36. There is a massive pruning of …
Spear, LP (2013). ‘Adolescent neurodevelopment’. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 52(2 Suppl 2),S7–S13.
36. We have billions of these …
Woodruff, A. What is a neuron? Queensland Brain Institute.
42. The Clontarf Foundation started with 25 lads …
Personal conversation with Clontarf Foundation CEO Gerard Neesham, 15th March 2024.
42. Sadly, young Indigenous men are at much higher risk …
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Mortality Database and ABC Causes of Death, Australia 2023. See more at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/data/populations-age-groups/suicide-indigenous-australians
42. Research shows that becoming addicted in this window…
Casey B.J., Jones R.M,, Hare, T.A. (2008). The adolescent brain. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1124:111–126.
42. During this same window, GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) is turned off …
Silveri, M.M., Sneider, J.T., Crowley, D.J., Covell, M.J., Acharya, D., Rosso, I.M., & Jensen, J.E. (2013). Frontal lobe γ-aminobutyric acid levels during adolescence: associations with impulsivity and response inhibition. Biological psychiatry, 74(4), 296–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.01.033
43. In an episode on vaping …
ABC & Maggie Dent (2023, March 28). What to do if your kid is vaping [Audio podcast episode]. Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
50. The brain uses around 50% of the oxygen …
Özugur, S., Kunz, L., & Straka, H. (2020). Relationship between oxygen consumption and neuronal activity in a defined neural circuit. BMC biology.
51. Statistics show that a large proportion of all of us, adults and teens alike, do not eat well …
Baird, D. & Henry, G. (2023, September). CSIRO Healthy Diet Score 2015–2023. CSIRO. Accessed at: https://www.csiro.au/en/research/health-medical/diets/csiro-healthy-diet-score
52. Also, there have been reports of a US study that’s linked the use of energy drinks …
Ruiz, L.D., & Scherr, R.E. (2018). Risk of Energy Drink Consumption to Adolescent Health. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 13(1), 22–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827618803069
CHAPTER 3: UNDERSTANDING THE TURBULENT EMOTIONAL WORLD OF TEENS
- Research has found that as children reach puberty …
Lawrence, K., Campbell, R., & Skuse, D. (2015). Age, gender, and puberty influence the development of facial emotion recognition. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 761. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00761
CHAPTER 4: THE INCREDIBLE IMPORTANCE OF TEEN SLEEP
78. The science is very strong that teens need at least nine hours sleep …
Many studies show this, and there’s a good summary here:
Canadian Paediatric Society’s Adolescent Health Committee. Teens and sleep: Why you need it and how to get enough. (2008). Paediatrics & child health, 13(1), 69–72. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/13.1.69
78. When I interviewed paediatric and adolescent sleep specialist Dr Chris Seton …
ABC & Maggie Dent (2023, July 25). Why your teen simply must sleep [Audio podcast episode]. Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
86. The connection between sleep and negative thinking is supported …
Tempesta, D. et al. (2020) ‘The impact of five nights of sleep restriction on emotional reactivity’, Journal of Sleep Research, 29(5). doi:10.1111/jsr.13022.
86. There is research that shows a powerful link between obesity …
Fry, A., & Rehman, A. (2023, December 22). Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/obesity-and-sleep
86. Some studies suggest that chronic lack of sleep can contribute …
Aime, M. (2023). To “feel” better, sleep on it! Science, 382(6670), 528-528. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk3894
CHAPTER 5 WHAT IS A LIGHTHOUSE AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?
94. Research has shown that teenagers who feel they are trusted …
For example: Ebbert, A.M., Infurna, F.J., Luthar, S.S. Mapping developmental changes in perceived parent-adolescent relationship quality throughout middle school and high school. Dev Psychopathol. 2019 Oct;31(4):1541-1556. doi: 10.1017/S0954579418001219. PMID: 30358525.
96. On my website, I have a long list of recommended life skills …
You can find these at: https://www.maggiedent.com/wp-content/uploads/MaggieDentLifeSkills.pdf
CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATION
113. A Growing Up in Australia research snapshot into intimate partner violence …
The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. (2023, October). Intimate partner violence among 18-19 year olds, Growing Up in Australia Snapshot Series – Issue 11.
114. A classroom experiment showed that when giving feedback …
Jensen, E. (1998). Teaching with the brain in mind. Alexandria, Va: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
125. I was very grateful for Edward De Bono’s work …
De Bono’s tools, including Plus, Minus, Interesting and Other People’s Views can be found at debono.com
CHAPTER 7 CULTIVATING CHARACTER AND BUILDING RESILIENCE
135. One study showed that in 1980, 60 per cent of senior students reported that they read a book …
Twenge, J. (Aug 20, 2018). Why it matters that teens are reading less. The Conversation.
141. The research is very strong that the human brain is much better at focusing on one thing …
Madore, K. P., & Wagner, A. D. (2019). Multicosts of Multitasking. Cerebrum: the Dana forum on brain science, 2019, cer-04-19.
146. Julie Lythcott-Haims was Dean of Freshmen at Stanford University for a …
Julie Lythcott-Haims has a very popular TED talk, How to raise successful kids – without over-parenting
148. The research is strong that modelling from parents …
There is much writen in this area, including for example: Sanders, M.R., Turner, K.M.T (2018) The importance of parenting in influencing the lives of children. In: Sanders, M.R., Morawska, A., eds. Handbook of Parenting and Child Development Across the Lifespan. New York: Springer pp. 3–26
150. Bonnie Benard is often considered the mother of the concept of building resilience …
Benard, B, Fostering Resiliency in Kids: Protective factors in the family, school and community, North West Education Library, Portland, USA, 1991.
151. The model draws from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs …
Goleman D (2021, 25th Anniversary edition). Emotional Intelligence: Why it can Matter More than IQ. London: Bloomsbury.
151. This strength-based approach to building resilience is from clinical psychologist Lyn Worsley …
Lyn is the creator of the Resilience Doughnut. https://www.theresiliencedoughnut.com.au/
156. The three keys to self-determination are connection, control and competence …
Price, A. (2017). He’s Not Lazy. Sterling Publishing Co.
157. On my website, I have a comprehensive set of life skills lists …
You can find these at: https://www.maggiedent.com/wp-content/uploads/MaggieDentLifeSkills.pdf
158. On one of the episodes of my ABC podcast, Parental As Anything …
ABC & Maggie Dent (2023, May 9). How to tell your kids you simply can’t afford it [Audio podcast episode]. Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
PART 2 – HOW CAN I HELP?
CHAPTER 9: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND A VAPE IN YOUR TEEN’S BAG (OR WORSE, THAT THEY ARE ADDICTED TO VAPING)
182. When I wanted to learn more about vaping …
ABC & Maggie Dent (2023, March 28). What to do if your kid is vaping [Audio podcast episode]. Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
182. Since that chat, new figures have been released …
Department of Health and Aged Care. Current vaping and current smoking in Australian population aged 14+years: February 2018-March 2023. Available at health.gov.au
182. A 2022 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found 14.1 per cent …
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, October 6). More than 2.5 million youth reported e-cigarette use in 2022. CDC Online Newsroom.
182. In the UK, the number has risen sharply in the last few years …
Department of Health and Social Care. (2023, October 4). Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation. GOV.UK.
183. An Australian Institute of Family Studies report released in October 2023 …
Truong, M. and Cotton, E. (October 2023). The impact of vaping on adolescent mental health. Policy and practice paper. Australian Institute of Family Studies.
183. In fact, according to Paul Dillon, a University of Wollongong study …
This refers to a study by Dr Celine Kelso. You can read more here.
186. In an excellent article she wrote in the New York Times, Lisa DAmour pointed out …
Damour, L. (14 February 2018). How to Talk With Teenagers About Vaping. New York Times.
187. ReachOut also suggest teaching them the 4D model for dealing with urges …
ReachOut. How to talk to your teen about vaping. https://parents.au.reachout.com/drinking-and-drug-use/drugs/how-to-talk-to-your-teen-about-vaping
CHAPTER 10: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND OUT YOUR TEEN IS SEXUALLY ACTIVE
192. An Australian survey of 600 girls aged 15–19 found 51 per cent …
Plan International Australia and Our Watch (2 March 206). ‘Don’t send me that pic’. Available at: https://www.plan.org.au/news/gender/dont-send-me-that-pic/
192. Former detective in the child exploitation area Brett Lee travels around …
Brett Lee presentation at Generation Next Conference 2019. Watch a video of Brett talking about sexting here.
192. The latest figures in Australia have shown that over 90 per cent of the victims of …
Australian Federal Police. (1 December 2022). AFP and AUSTRAC target offshore sextortion syndicates preying on Australian youth. afp.gov.au
192. Half of all Australian children aged 9–16 …
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation. (March 2016). Harm being done to Australian children through access to pornography on the Internet. Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the harm being done to Australian children through access to pornography on the internet. Accessed at: aph.gov.au
196. One of the most informative, up-to-date websites that gives teens accurate and balanced information is sexedrescue.com …
I mention some of the educational videos on Cath Hakanson’s website. You can find them here.
CHAPTER 11 – WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN ‘COMES OUT’ OR IS CONFUSED WHILE EXPLORING THEIR SEXUALITY OR GENDER
201. I’d encourage you to seek out the Australian Institute of Family Studies ‘LGBTIQA+ glossary …
Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2022). LGBTIQA+ glossary of common terms. https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/22-02_rs_lgbtiqa_glossary_of_common_terms_0.pdf
202. LGBTQIA+ people have the highest rates …
Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/statistics#{843A8DEC-A157-4DAA-B3CF-0840AA823575}
203. In the UK, research from charity Just Like Us showed that 46 per cent of LGBTQIA+ 11–18-year-olds …
Just Like Us. (Nov 2021). LGBT+ young people twice as likely to experience depression, anxiety and panic attacks, research finds. justlikeus.org
203. In the US, CDC research from 2021 showed that 69 per cent of LGBTQIA…
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011–2021. cdc.gov
203. Some clinicians and researchers have suggested there is a significant link between eating disorders and gender dysphoria …
The Trevor Project & The National Eating Disorders Association in the US, share this useful graphic that covers this intersection: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/nedaw18/NEDA-TrevorProject%20Survey-Infographic.pdf
204. The University of Sydney’s Dr Victoria Rawlings …
Dent, M. (2022, March 14). Kids and Gender [Audio podcast episode]. In Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
208. Standards of Care developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health …
You can find those here: https://app.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/SOC%20v8/SOC-8%20FAQs%20-%20WEBSITE2.pdf
CHAPTER 12: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND A BONG, SOME WEED OR A SMALL PLASTIC BAG WITH RANDOM PILLS IN IT
213. A study led by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) …
Darke, S., Duflou, J., Farrell, M., Peacock, A. & Lappin, J. (2019) Characteristics and circumstances of synthetic cannabinoid-related death. Accessible at:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2019.1647344
215. Prescription drugs that are also stimulants include amphetamines …
Source: Drug Enforcement Agency: https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Stimulants-2020.pdf
218. The statistics are showing that our teens are drinking less …
Ball, J., Grucza, R., Livingston, M., ter Bogt, T., Currie, C., de Looze, M. (2023). The great decline in adolescent risk behaviours: Unitary trend, separate trends, or cascade?, Social Science & Medicine, Volume 317, 115616, ISSN 0277-9536, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115616.
218. Research shows that your son or daughter will struggle more …
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020. National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2019. Drug Statistics series no. 32. PHE 270. Canberra AIHW.
CHAPTER 13: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN COMES HOME SERIOUSLY DRUNK
221. In 2017 only 27 per cent of young people used alcohol …
Guerin N & White V (2019). ‘ASSAD 2017 Statistics & Trends: Trends in Substance Use Among Australian Secondary Students’. Cancer Council Victoria.
221. Among young people who drink, one in four report drinking five or more alcoholic drinks in a single session in the past month (23 per cent)
Guerin N & White V (2019). ‘ASSAD 2017 Statistics & Trends: Trends in Substance Use Among Australian Secondary Students’. Cancer Council Victoria.
223. However, a recent Dutch longitudinal study found adolescents who were exposed …
Cook, M., Smit, K., & Kuntsche, E. (2023). All alcohol exposure counts – testing parental, older sibling, best friend and peer exposure on young adolescent drinking in a seven-wave longitudinal study. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 118(2), 276–283. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16073
225. Paul suggests they eat a palm-sized amount of carbohydrates before leaving home …
Dillon, P. (2009). Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs: What your kids really want and need to know about alcohol and drugs. Allen & Unwin.
227. There’s a great episode on the podcast, ‘The Real Deal on Drugs with Paul Dillon’ in which he explains when to call an ambulance …
Dillon, P. (2021, 5 October). ‘When do you need to call an ambulance for a drunk person’. The Real Deal on Drugs [Audio podcast]. DARTA.
CHAPTER 14: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN IS EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT BULLYING, INCLUDING CYBERBULLYING
234. There’s actually some great information online about power stances these days …
Cuddy, A. (June 2012). ‘Your body language may shape who you are’. TEDGlobal 2012.
236. One of those was Rachel Downie …
Dent, M. (2019, July 9). What you need to know before you give your child a smartphone [Audio podcast episode]. In Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
238. Also, I previously was not aware that, in some places …
Davis, C. (2022, June 17). The minimum age of criminal responsibility in Australia. A quick guide. Parliament of Australia.
CHAPTER 15: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN’S PHONE USE BECOMES PROBLEMATIC
246. Sextortion has become a significant problem …
Australian Federal Police. (1 December 2022). AFP and AUSTRAC target offshore sextortion syndicates preying on Australian youth. afp.gov.au
247. In a recent Roy Morgan research poll …
Roy Morgan Research (2016, August 22). 9 in 10 Aussie teens now have a mobile (and most are already on to their second or subsequent handset). Accessed at: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9-in-10-aussie-teens-now-have-a-mobile-and-most-are-already-on-to-their-second-or-subsequent-handset
247. In 2019, one US study of more than 6,500 12-to 15-year-olds …
Riehm, K.E., Feder, K.A., Tormohlen, K.N., et al. (2019). Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth. JAMA Psychiatry. 76(12):1266–1273. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325
247. Another UK study that same year …
The Mayo Clinic. (n.d.) Teens and social media use: What’s the impact?. Accessible at:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-and-social-media-use/art-20474437
248. However, it seems the evidence has gotten much stronger, as a review of research …
Haidt, J., Rausch, Z., & Twenge, J. (ongoing). Social media and mental health: A collaborative review. Unpublished manuscript, New York University. Accessed at tinyurl.com/SocialMediaMentalHealthReview You can read more on this at Haidt’s Substack, After Babel and in his book The Anxious Generation.
248. Another study that has come out in recent times …
Sapien Labs (2023) Age of First Smartphone/Tablet and Mental Wellbeing Outcomes as quoted in Jon Haidt’s After Babel Substack.
248. Despite all these concerns, which hit the mainstream in 2020 when the documentary The Social Dilemma came out …
The Social Dilemma. Directed by Jeff Orlowski, Exposure Labs, 2020. Netflix, netflix.com/au/title/81254224
248. At the time of writing this book, 33 states in the US and nine attorneys general had filed lawsuits against Meta …
Paul, K. and agencies. (2023, Oct 25). Meta sued by 33 states over claims youth mental health endangered by Instagram. The Guardian.
251. In his writing and his work as director of The Screen and Gaming Disorder Clinic in Sydney, Brad Marshall …
Brad Marshall is also known as The Unplugged Psychologist. He is the author of How to Say No to Your Phone: An Empowering Guide for Young People and The Tech Diet for Your Child and Teen. Brad and I also discussed kids and online gaming on a Parental As Anything podcast episode, and in an online masterclass Plugged In and Tuned Out
252. Claire Orange from DiGii Social …
DiGii Social is at: https://digiisocial.com/
Claire used this metaphor in The Digital Life of Kids masterclass we did together on 13 February 2023.
256. A great suggestion from my friend Dr Kristy Goodwin …
Kristy has mentioned this suggestion in several conversations. She has been a guest on the Parental As Anything podcast twice, Screen time – how much is too much (2019, May 28) and How to work from home with kids (2020, April 21) and a masterclass we did together in 2020 called Teens on Tech. Also check out her book, Dear Digital: We need to talk.
CHAPTER 16: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN’S GAMING BECOMES PROBLEMATIC
258. In a 2020 report from Digital Australia…
Brand, J. E., Jervis, J., Huggins, P. M., & Wilson, T. W. (2019). Digital Australia 2020. Eveleigh, NSW: IGEA.
261. Australian research suggests that between 2 and 3 per cent of teens could be classified as having IGD …
Warburton, W.A., Parkes, S., Sweller, N. Internet Gaming Disorder: Evidence for a Risk and Resilience Approach. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 4;19(9):5587. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095587. PMID: 35564981; PMCID: PMC9103383.
CHAPTER 17: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN HATES THEIR BODY AND YOU SUSPECT THEIR EATING HABITS MIGHT BE DISORDERED
266. When I did a survey for my book Girlhood …
I surveyed almost 5,000 parents for the book, using an online survey.
266. Writer and activist Taryn Brumfitt was Australian of the Year in 2023 and is known for her documentary film Embrace …
Embrace: The Documentary. Directed by Taryn Brumfitt, 2016. And Embrace: Kids. Directed by Taryn Brumfitt, 2022. See: https://theembracehub.com/see-the-film/
266. Research suggests that increased screen usage, particularly social media, can influence body image …
For more on this, see the Body Kind Youth Survey conducted by Butterfly: https://butterfly.org.au/get-involved/campaigns/youthsurveyfindings/
Also: Tiggemann, M. & Slater, A. (2013). NetGirls: The Internet, Facebook, and body image concern in adolescent girls, International Journal of Eating Disorders, Vol 46, No 6.
And: McLean, S.A. et al. (2015). Photoshopping the selfie: Self photo editing and photo investment are associated with body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls, International Journal of Eating Disorders, Vol 48, No 8
267. A UK researcher found that 36 per cent of young women and 24 per cent of young men sometimes avoided …
Be Real. (2017). Somebody Like Me: A report investigating the impact of body image anxiety on young people in the UK. Available from: https://www.berealcampaign.co.uk/research/somebody-like-me
CHAPTER 18: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DISCOVER YOUR TEEN IS INTENTIONALLY SELF-HARMING
275. Recent figures from the Australian Government’s Growing up in Australia: Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) …
Growing Up In Australia – The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, Annual Statistical Report 2018, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne, 2018.
277. Some of the key risk factors that can contribute to a teen turning to self-harm …
McEvoy D., Brannigan, R., Cooke, L., Butler, E., Walsh, C., Arensman, E., Clarke, M. (2023). Risk and protective factors for self-harm in adolescents and young adults: An umbrella review of systematic reviews, Journal of Psychiatric Research,Volume 168. Pages 353-380. ISSN 0022-3956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.10.017.
277. I interviewed Professor Jo Robinson from Orygen (a mental health advocacy not-for-profit organisation) about self-harm …
ABC & Maggie Dent (2023, June 20). What to do if your child is self-harming [Audio podcast episode]. Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
281. ReachOut Australia has some good advice …
https://au.reachout.com/challenges-and-coping/self-harm/self-help-for-self-harm
283. At a recent conference, I met an amazing woman, Jo, who is an occupational therapist …
I met Jo Seymon at the Resilient Kids Conference on 2nd September 2023 in Adelaide. Jo and her son Kai make Kaiko Fidgets.
CHAPTER 19: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN’S SCHOOL GRADES SUDDENLY PLUMMET
287. In the 2023 Mission Australia Survey …
Mission Australia. (2023). Youth Survey Report 2023. missionaustralia.com.au
CHAPTER 20: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN’S ANXIETY BECOMES PROBLEMATIC AND PREVENTS THEM FROM DOING THINGS THAT MATTER
294. Prior to the pandemic we were looking at rates of around 15 per cent …
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (25 June 2021) ‘Australia’s youth: Mental illness’ web article. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/mental-illness
295. I really love the way that Australian psychologist Karen Young explains …
Young, K. (n.d.) We have to change the way we talk about anxiety. Here’s why. And how. Hey Sigmund.
300. Smiling Mind in Australia runs programs in schools …
https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
303. Headspace has some excellent free resources …
https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/anxiety/
305. I have some ‘Maggie Soothers’ on my YouTube channel …
These are all in a Maggie Soothers playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqHVXsJtte08epj4OYpsUuews2kzyxmbr
305. Beyond Blue also has a great page called ‘Relaxation Techniques’ …
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/wellbeing/relaxation-exercises
307. Well respected psychologist Karen Young has shared in her work, especially her excellent picture books …
Karen has several picture books available at https://www.heysigmund.com/shop/
CHAPTER 21: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN EXPERIENCES A SIGNIFICANT LOSS EXPERIENCE OR A DEATH
319. Small Gestures of Kindness Can Make a Huge Difference …
Zhong, B., Wang, X., & Yang, F. (2020). More than an apple: better lunch enhances bus drivers’ work performance and well-being. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 27(3), 874–883. https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2019.1662980
CHAPTER 22: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEEN EXPERIENCES SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE
321. According to 2020–2021 figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics …
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023, March 15). 2 in 5 Australians have experienced physical or sexual violence. abs.gov.au
323. Evidence is now showing that today’s children are beginning puberty earlier …
Several studies show this, including: Herman-Giddens, M.E., Slora, E.J., Wasserman, R.C., Bourdony, C.J., Bhapkar, M.V., Koch, G.G. and Hasemeier, C.M. (1997). Secondary Sexual Characteristics and Menses in Young Girls Seen in Office Practice: A Study from the Pediatric Research in Office Settings Network. PEDIATRICS, [online] 99(4), pp.505–512. doi:https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.99.4.505
AND Herman-Giddens M, Steffes J, Harris D, Slora E, Hussey M, & Dowshen S et al (2012). ‘Secondary Sexual Characteristics in Boys’. Pediatrics, 130(5), e1058-e1068.
325. Sexual violence among adolescents particularly came to light when, in 2021, former private school student Chanel Contos created a petition …
Teach Us Consent. https://www.teachusconsent.com
This violence has also been documented in research: Rostad, W.L., Gittins-Stone, D., Huntington, C., Rizzo, C.J., Pearlman, D., Orchowski, L. The Association Between Exposure to Violent Pornography and Teen Dating Violence in Grade 10 High School Students. Arch Sex Behav. 2019 Oct;48(7):2137-2147. doi: 10.1007/s10508-019-1435-4. Epub 2019 Jul 15. PMID: 31309432; PMCID: PMC6751001.
326. Kirra Pendergast from Safe On Social reports…
Kirra mentioned this notion of tweens flirting online in a blog at www.safeonsocial.com that is no longer online about tweens and sexting. She’s also spoken in the media and at her presentations about this.
327. Research from the eSafety commissioner …
SWGFL/UK Safer Internet centre, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom, Netsafe, New Zealand and Office of the eSafety Commissioner, Australia. (2017, December 14). Young People and Sexting—Attitudes and Behaviours. Research findings from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia. Accessed at: https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-07/Young%20people%20and%20sexting-netsafe-UK%20Safer%20Internet%20Centre-Plymoth%20University-eSafety%20Commissioner.pdf
328. Over 90 per cent of sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the victim knows …
Finkelhor, D., ‘Characteristics of crimes against juveniles’, Crimes against Children Research Center, Durham, USA, 2012; Whealin, J, ‘Child Sexual Abuse’, National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, US Department of Veterans Affairs, 22 May 2007.
CHAPTER 23: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUPPORTING YOUR NEURODIVERGENT TEEN THROUGH THE CHALLENGES OF ADOLESCENCE
339. Over the last five years I have been working with Allison Davies …
Allison regularly presents at my Calming Today’s Anxious Kids conferences and was a guest on my Parental As Anything podcast on the ‘parenting autistic kids’ episode (2021, August 3).
CHAPTER 24: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE WORRIED YOUR TEEN MAY BE CONSIDERING SUICIDE
346. In Australia, suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people in the age group of 15 to 19 …
346. Even more concerning, from the ages of 18 to 24, the death by suicide rate has increased …
Professor Mat Coleman spoke about this in the episode of Parental As Anything we recorded. ABC & Maggie Dent (2021, June 8). How to talk about suicide with children [Audio podcast episode]. Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
346. Another concerning statistic is that the suicide rate for Australian female young people…
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2019). Causes of Death, Australia: 2019, Table 11.2 Intentional self-harm, Age-specific death rates, 5 year age groups by sex, 2010–2019, ABS.
346. Young people outside capital cities are significantly more at risk of dying by suicide …
346. The rate of suicide among Indigenous young people …
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Mortality Database and ABC Causes of Death, Australia 2023. See more at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/data/populations-age-groups/suicide-indigenous-australians
347. One in six young LGBTQIA+ people have attempted suicide …
Robinson, K.H., Bansel, P., Denson, N., Ovenden, G. & Davies, C. (2014). Growing Up Queer: Issues Facing Young Australians Who Are Gender Variant and Sexuality Diverse. Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne p V
347. I interviewed Associate Professor Mat Coleman …
ABC & Maggie Dent (2021, June 8). How to talk about suicide with children [Audio podcast episode]. Parental As Anything. ABC Listen
353. Some suggestions Orygen makes are to …
See Orygen’s #chatsafe for parents and carers at https://www.orygen.org.au/chatsafe/Resources/chatsafe-for-parents-and-carers
CONCLUSION
358. I would say it’s not just the younger generation, as I heard the wise relationship expert Esther Perel express on a podcast …
I heard this when Brené Brown chatted to Esther Perel on Brené’s Unlocking Us podcast, in an episode called ‘New AI: Artifical Intimacy‘ (2024, March 20). You can also catch Esther and Brené in another episode on ‘on Partnerships, Patterns, and Paradoxical Relationships’, (2021, September 22).