What Changes During Adolescence?

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Loneliness can intensify the relationship between smartphone dependency and mental health challenges.

Increased social media use during the pandemic was linked to higher stress, anxiety, and depression.

AI chatbots can simulate emotional connections, potentially increasing unhealthy technology dependence.

Therapy can help youth rebuild social skills, emotional regulation, and meaningful real-world connections.

by Dante Lewis-Chan and Robert T. Muller, Ph.D.

According to the 2023 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, the rate of adolescents with poor mental health had more than doubled between 2019 and 2023. The survey assessed mental well-being in 2019, and checked in with those same participants four years later. In the initial survey, about 12 percent of youth aged 12 to 17 had rated their mental health as “fair” or “poor.” This figure rose to 26 percent by 2023.

After the survey’s initial assessment, the COVID-19 pandemic had started. During the pandemic, screen time rose across all age groups. A 2024 study examined this rise and found that students who used social media to cope........

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