5 ms·

Has there been any change in the rate of depression or other mental disorders in minors, and if so, is loss of autonomy one of the factors in this?

• watwut 8y ago
  It is hard to say, since we diagnose more then before. Anecdotally, some say that yes there is such rise. Then again, teenagers are now less violent then before, commit less serious crime, get pregnant less often and take drugs less. It is hard to weight those against each other.
  • JackCh 8y ago
    Do they take less drugs, or do they just take less recreational drugs? Anecdotally, I'd wager kids are taking more drugs than ever before, specifically the kind that come with a prescription. And we could really get into the weeds with which recreational drugs are/were popular with kids... And I'd also wager that the number of kids negatively impacted by poor mental health today is a lot more than the number of kids negatively impacted by violent youth crime and teenage pregnancies in past years not so far removed from our own. Furthermore we've got a baby/bathwater situation going on here specifically with respect to teenage pregnancy as it relates to minor autonomy. Teaching kids to use condoms and birth control needn't be thrown out with the bathwater that is overprotected children. In fact, I think you could argue that sex education for minors is an exception to the rule, where minors are being given more autonomy today than in the past.
    • watwut 8y ago
      Less heroin and similar addictive drugs. Probably also less marihuanna. Point was they are less likely to be junkies.
      • JackCh 8y ago
        I've seen sources for less cannabis, but I'm skeptical that the proportion of opioid/prescription medication abuse is down. Furthermore there is also the very serious issue of adderrall abuse, which is very common, and doubtlessly related the issue of modern social expectations forced on kids. And beyond that, I'd wager caffeine consumption is also through the roof. When I was a kid it was virtually unheard of for minors to drink coffee, and I never saw colas let alone energy drinks sold in vending machines in schools.
  • aianus 8y ago
    > get pregnant less often But are they getting pregnant less often per instance of intercourse? There were a lot of articles lately that teenagers and young adults are having less sex now than ever before which IMHO would be a failure rather than a success of overparenting.
    • DoreenMichele 8y ago
      Why on earth would you presume it's a failure? I knew a guy some years older than me who had been a bonafide hippie. He told me "TV cut off at 9pm. Not really anything to do after that but sex and drugs." With the internet providing 24/7 entertainment, that particular issue -- "I'm bored. I think I shall get high and/or laid." -- is mostly a solved problem.
    • watwut 8y ago
      1.) It is both less sex and more protection. 2.) Statistically, kids who are well informed about sex and have factual information tend to both start later and use protection. So no, later sex is not failure of parenting. It is result of kids making rational well informed choices. (Meaning them skipping sex with partner they don't trust, them being less likely to be manipulated or shamed into it, less likely do it just to acquired social status or for fear they will look gay.) 3.) There is nothing inherently good about soon sex. Self control is good thing and will be correlated with later sex (cause you skip some chances by choice). The idea that there is something wrong with you if you are not having sex at 17 is ridiculous anyway.
      • aianus 8y ago
        The trend is continuing into adulthood which is the part that’s concerning.
        • watwut 8y ago
          Out of curiosity, why is that concerning - assuming we are really at some kind of historical low e.g. low compared to more then just hippy 80ties including pre-contracepion eras? Is that you think it is lack of sex that makes people have less children (meaning that they would have them had they not be too lazy to have sex)? Or that there are less relationships or that people keep solely their own gender peer group? Mark of people caring about work more then humans? Or something else?
• krupan 8y ago
  Teen suicide rates are up, for what it's worth.