How Stress is Changing the Teenage Brain – Dr. Christy Kane

Issues that affect our students more prominently today than they did in the 1980’s include: anxiety, depression, bullying, fear, and even sexting. Dr. Christy Kane spoke to parents and students at Springville High School on Monday, October 21, highlighting the cultural differences that affect the way teens brains are developing today. 

Screen time and what teens are seeing online may have the biggest negative effect on our children. The amount of screen time, along with other expectations being put on our teenagers, have brought a new level of increased stress on children, teenagers, and even adults. 

Dr. Kane shared with the audience some staggering statistics that showed how our culture has changed. 

◆    In the 1980’s, teens spent three-four nights a week with friends. Whereas today, the average is only one night a week. 

◆    In the 1980’s,  more teens were involved with after school activities, concerned about obtaining their drivers license, and were working for a wage by the age of 16. Whereas today, this is just not happening. 

◆    Also, children in the 1980’s  spent just over eight hours playing outside on the average. Whereas today, it’s less than four hours playing outside. 

Dr. Kane emphasized that moving our bodies outside is crucial for the development of a child’s brain. Kane believes that not exercising outside is one reason that the child’s brain is overloaded. Children are not getting the chance to de-stress like they used to. Children are not with friends or going outside. It is just not happening. Children have more and more stress piled on without a way to release all that stress.

Dr. Kane noted multiple strategies that help students de-stress to avoid the brain overload that causes their stress and anxiety. 

The last thing that Dr. Kane shared with parents was an urge for parents to talk about mental health. Mental health does not need to be negative and can be positive. We all want our children to have good mental health. Parents and children both need to talk, unplug, de-stress, and go outside and play. 

To learn more about what Dr. Christy Kane shares with parents and community leaders, you can attend her next presentations on Monday, November 11 at Maple Mountain High School or Monday, November 18 at Spanish Fork High, both starting at 7:00 p.m.

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