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Parents and Kids Agree: Loneliness is Today’s Biggest Mental Health Challenge
When it comes to mental health, parents and kids don’t always see eye to eye. But a new national survey shows there’s one thing they agree on: they think that loneliness is the biggest threat to young people’s well-being today.
The Intergenerational Stressors Study, a project from the Child Mind Institute, asked 1,000 parent-child pairs (parents ages 26-77, youth ages 11-22) across the United States how they see today’s mental health challenges. The results paint a revealing picture of where families are on the same page — and where they’re not.
What Families Agree On
Both parents and kids put loneliness at the top of the list of concerns. That shared recognition is a signal that families, schools, and communities all need to focus on connection — creating spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger.
Where Perspectives Diverge
- Parents worry most about long-term risks: academics, safety, and substance use.
- Kids say the pressures of navigating relationships — whether romantic or friendship — is what weighs heaviest on them.
In other words, parents are focused on protecting their kids from the world, while kids are concerned about their ability to navigate their connections within it. Both perspectives are valid, but if families don’t talk about these differences, stress can get overlooked.
Technology and the AI Question
No surprise here: Both parents and kids are uneasy about the mental health effects of social media. But when it comes to artificial intelligence, opinions split. Parents tend to see it as one more mental health risk factor, while young people are more open to its possibilities — as long as it’s used responsibly.
Why This Matters
The big takeaway from the study is this: There’s more common ground than we think. Parents and kids share many of the same concerns about young people’s mental health, including loneliness, bullying and academic pressure, even if they describe them differently. That shared foundation is a starting point for action.
Families can begin by having more open conversations about stress. Schools and community leaders can create opportunities for connection. And policymakers can help expand access to care and support prevention efforts.
The Bottom Line
Mental health challenges are real — and growing. But the Intergenerational Stressors Study shows that parents and kids are ready to face them together. The solution starts with one simple step: listening to each other.
This study was made possible with funding support from the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health.
