Mental, Physical Health Top Parental Concerns in Comprehensive New Poll

Pervasive technology use, excessive screen time, and social media exposure are being blamed for the worsening of children’s mental health and physical health, following the release of new results from the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.¹

Overall, 10 top health concerns were cited from a survey conducted in February that received 2021 responses and included parents of children aged 1 to 18 years, with 69% of parents believing physical health is deteriorating and 83%, mental health. In order, these are the concerns: social media (cited by 75% of parents), too much screen time/use of devices (75%), internet safety (66%), unhealthy diet (62%), child/teen mental health (62%), cost of health care/health insurance (56%), obesity (56%), smoking/vaping (56%), bullying (54%), and school violence (54%).

“These concerns from parents reflect a growing awareness that today’s children are facing increasing challenges impacting both their physical and mental health,” said Susan J. Woolford, MD, MPH, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center at Michigan Medicine, and co-director of the Mott poll, in a statement. “Excessive screen time and social media exposure are linked to poor sleep, less physical activity, and negative mental health outcomes, including anxiety, low self-esteem, and unhealthy social comparisons.”²

Although all of these concerns are significant, they do vary by age, Woolford explained. For example, parents of younger children are more likely to worry about the impact of total screen time on attention span and learning ability, and parents of teens are more likely to worry about the impact of social media on self-image and peer pressure.

Beyond the top 10 issues in the new poll, guns/gun injuries, drinking/using drugs, poverty, parental stress, unequal access to health care, race- and gender-related discrimination, and food safety were some of the top problems stressing parents. | Image Credit: © Mary Long-stock.adobe.com

These findings come on the heels of research from earlier this year which showed a rise in pediatric mental health visits to emergency departments,³ increasing depression among early adolescents due to social media use,⁴ and cuts to the 988 crisis line that risk the health of LGBTQ+ youth.⁵ Further, parental awareness of the mental health challenges is likely due, in part, to the greater numbers of children and teens struggling with their mental health, with mothers seemingly more concerned about both mental health and safety compared with fathers¹:

• Child/teen mental health: 72% vs 50%
• Bullying: 64% vs 43%
• School violence: 64% vs 42%
• Child abduction/sex trafficking: 58% vs 37%
• Lack of mental health services: 54% vs 32%

Beyond the top 10 issues, guns/gun injuries (51%), drinking/using drugs (47%), poverty (44%), parental stress (39%), unequal access to health care (37%), race- and gender-related discrimination (31%), and food safety (30%), were some of the top problems stressing parents—63% of whom rated 10 or more of the topics surveyed as big problems for US children and teens.

The authors of the report note a concerning correlation between the rise of social media and the significant leap in mental health problems in youth. “This increase, particularly in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts continued through the COVID-19 pandemic years, especially among teen girls,” they wrote.

Overall, the parents surveyed had the most questions about their child’s nutrition and exercise habits (39%), according to a press release about the poll results,² with potential blame for this being healthy food options that are inaccessible, unaffordable, and not acceptable on their children’s part, Woolford said. Mental health questions (22%) came in second, followed by parenting and keeping kids healthy (15%) and technology/social media (12%).

The report highlights the critical importance of good nutrition and physical activity to cognitive functioning, emotional health, and quality of life; of empathy, kindness, and acceptance to diminishing the disruptions caused by bullying, stressing collaboration between parents, health care providers, and teachers; and of regular access to health care, especially for those with Medicaid coverage, who could suffer under the policy changes announced in the One Big Beautiful Act, which was signed into law on July 4.

References

1. Mott Poll Report: top health concerns for 2025. C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital/University of Michigan Health. August 18, 2025. Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.newswise.com/pdf_docs/175502925548531_081825_Top10.pdf
2. Majority of parents believe children’s physical and mental health is getting worse. News release. Newswise. August 18, 2025. Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.newswise.com/articles/majority-of-parents-believe-children-s-physical-and-mental-health-is-getting-worse/?sc=dwhr&xy=10026574
3. Jeremias S. 1 in 3 minors facing mental health crisis experience 12-hour ED waits. AJMC^®. May 28, 2025. Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/1-in-3-minors-facing-mental-health-crisis-experience-12-hour-ed-waits
4. Grossi G. Increased social media use linked to rising depressive symptoms in early adolescents. AJMC. May 21, 2025. Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/increased-social-media-use-linked-to-rising-depressive-symptoms-in-early-adolescents
5. Bonavitacola J. Cutting specialists from suicide hotline threatens LGBTQ+ youth, experts say. AJMC. May 5, 2025. Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/cutting-specialists-from-suicide-hotline-threatens-lgbtq-youth-experts-say
6. Klein H, Patel L. 5 key takeaways on Medicaid policy changes from Savista’s chief strategy officer. AJMC. August 15, 2025. Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/5-key-takeaways-on-medicaid-policy-changes-from-savista-s-chief-strategy-officer