Tips for helping a stressed-out teen

36% of teens are stressed ALL the time

A recent luna survey of teens found that over 50% of them were stressed over half of the time! In fact, 36% of poll respondents said they were stressed ALL of the time.

So, we thought we’d dig a little deeper, to find out the reasons why teens’ stress levels are so high, and offer advice on what we could do as caregivers to provide better help for teenagers.  

We did a stress level test on 1,801 teens

Let’s break down the stat shared earlier. In a survey of 1,801 teens, we discovered that:

• 52% are stressed about half of the time
• 36% are ALWAYS stressed
• 12% get stressed out, but it's very rare
• <1% are never stressed

Parenting teenagers who are stressed most or all of the time isn’t easy – it can impact the overall mood at home and if the teen has siblings, could have a knock-on effect on their wellbeing too.

3,583 teens told us why they were so stressed

We were keen to find out what exactly is stressing out this generation of teens – Generation Z and Generation Alpha.

Here are the top 5 reasons for teens’ stress levels, from a sample size of 3,583 teens: 

• School stress
• Feeling insecure
• Pressure to succeed
• Too much on
• Friendship problems

So, why is this happening?

School stress is fuelled by exams and relationships

Exam stress plays a big role in student stress, but insecurity in friendships and relationships is equally stressing out Gen Zalpha. There is a constant need to be part of a friendship group, often requiring a singular best friend. Friendship drama can derail motivation and causes intense feelings of isolation and anxiety.

Feeling insecure is the norm for teen girls online

As digital natives, comparison culture is rife and teens can’t help but be presented with the face of “perfection” whenever they (very frequently) tap into their phones. Harmful social media trends and micro aesthetics breed insecurities about not only body image, but also about how someone generally lives their life.

Pressure to succeed now and in later life

Teens are overwhelmed by their futures and making the “right” choices. We see teens stressed about picking their GCSE options through to anxieties about failing in later life. General fears about leaving behind childhood are frequent too. Often, pressure comes from either parents or themselves.

Too much on – the overstimulated teen

Teens today are facing unprecedented challenges. This is a generation who have faced chaos in their education, socialisation and mental health off the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it’s left them rushing to catch-up (often using social media as a guide). Catching up often means being overloaded with new activities and information.

Parenting teenagers who are stressed – what can be done?

Every generation has different traits and needs, and whilst these aren’t universal – teens are individual – we wanted to give some general insights into what members of the luna community said would help them as teens deal with stress the most.

We polled 1,620 stressed teens to find out what they need from parents:

• Listen and be empathetic without judgement
• Create a calm and supportive home environment
• Say everything’s going to be okay and offer a hug
• Allow space and privacy to figure things out independently
• Help with creating schedule and reducing overwhelming commitments

So what can we take away from this?

Empathy, reassurance, and privacy are key.

As caregivers, we should be empathetic and actively listen to what teens are telling us. 

Gen Zalpha don’t necessarily want us to fix all their problems – they know their own minds and they want to find their own solutions. 

Instead, we should aim to validate their feelings, offer space, and listen without judgement. 

Advice should be given in a collaborative instead of condescending way – this is the best approach to providing help for teenagers, according to luna's community.

You aren’t alone in this

If you are struggling with parenting teenagers who are highly stressed, it may be time to seek support from organisations – you don’t have to do this alone and there is no shame in this. Teens are highly independent, and often can benefit from objective advice that is given responsibly. 

Why not support your teen with luna premium?

Our app, luna, has dedicated advice on this topic which can help them feel more empowered through adolescence.

You can think of luna as a modern, digital approach to wellbeing – it’s cost-effective, verified by doctors and safeguarding experts, and has a direct line into the biggest concerns facing teens today – so it’s actually addressing what they need advice on, when they need it.

If you’ve been looking for an antidote to the misinformation and negativity shared on social media or forums, you can get luna for your teen via our luna premium page for the price of a coffee each month or manage their subscription by downloading luna yourself and signing up as a parent (it's "we are luna" in app stores).

There are also so many other organisations for more serious cases

It may be the case that your teens' mental health is impacting their day-to-day life, e.g. school stress is stopping them attending, or you find that they’re more low than not. In these cases, they will benefit from personalised support – as luna is a closed community, we often signpost to other amazing organisations or a GP.

In addition to seeking personalised mental health support for your teen from their GP, we would recommend:

• Mind: call 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 (9am to 6pm on weekdays)
• Childline: call 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill
• Shout Crisis Text Line: text "SHOUT" to 85258

We genuinely believe that you don’t have to have an “out of control” teenager to take their mental health seriously, so hopefully this advice has helped you out if you are struggling.