Podcast Summary
California trains wellness coaches to improve youth mental health: California prioritizes youth mental health, while the World Happiness Report highlights the importance of child and adolescent well-being for future happiness. Explore ways to earn income through cashback rewards or Airbnb.
Mental health is a significant issue among half of the youth population, and California is addressing this by training certified wellness coaches to help improve their mental health and well-being. Meanwhile, the World Happiness Report reveals a complex trend in youth happiness, with some regions seeing an increase while others, including North America, experiencing a decline. Professor Jan Emmanuel Denev, a co-author of the report and lead author of the Gen Z chapter, emphasizes the importance of focusing on child and adolescent well-being, as it is a strong predictor of future adult happiness. In the meantime, people can explore earning cashback rewards with the Apple Card or consider turning their homes into Airbnbs to potentially earn more income.
Childhood happiness influences future earnings: Adolescent well-being significantly predicts future earnings, highlighting the importance of prioritizing children's mental health for a better start in life
Mental health during childhood and adolescence significantly influences life outcomes and overall life satisfaction as an adult. A study published in the National Academy of Sciences by Andrew Oswald and the speaker found that adolescent well-being, particularly at ages 12, 15, 19, and 21, was a powerful predictor of future earnings. Even after controlling for socioeconomic status, the study showed that siblings with lower well-being as adolescents earned less as adults. This suggests that happiness in childhood and adolescence is crucial and can have long-lasting impacts. Traditionally, researchers have found that happiness follows a U-shaped relationship with age. People are generally happy as children, then experience a dip in midlife, and then become happier again in old age. However, in North America and to a lesser extent in Western Europe and Britain, this pattern has broken down, and the initial happiness in childhood is no longer present. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize and invest in children's mental health to ensure they have the best possible start in life.
Young people in North America are less happy than adults and have seen a decline in self-reported well-being over the past 10-15 years.: Despite being a pressing issue, the trend of declining youth well-being and happiness in North America is unique to the region and has potential long-term consequences.
The trend of declining self-reported well-being and happiness among young people in the US, which started around 10-15 years ago, has worsened and even reversed, making them less happy than adults. This trend, which is unique to North America, has resulted in the US dropping from a top 15 ranking to a 60th place in terms of youth well-being on a global scale. This is concerning not only because it's an urgent issue that needs to be addressed, but also because the predictive power of child and adolescent well-being and mental health indicates that this trend is likely to continue into adulthood. Interestingly, this trend is not universal, as youth in some regions of the world, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, have actually reported increased self-rated well-being. The causes of these differences are complex and require further investigation, but it's clear that there is a need for action to improve the well-being and happiness of young people in North America.
Decline in Youth Well-being in Certain Regions: Rising inequalities, political polarization, and excessive social media use are contributing to a decline in youth well-being in some regions, particularly North America. It's important for society and leaders to prioritize youth mental health, while individuals can also seek help and improve their social batteries.
While some regions around the world are seeing improvements in youth well-being, others, particularly North America, are experiencing a decline. Factors contributing to this include rising inequalities within societies, political polarization, and excessive use of social media. The US, for instance, has fallen to 63rd place in terms of youth well-being below 30. It's crucial for society and its leaders to address these issues and prioritize the mental health and well-being of young people. Meanwhile, individuals can also take steps to improve their social batteries and seek help from resources like therapy or wellness coaches.
Comparing Cars and Social Media: The Need for Guardrails: Society must advocate for guardrails to harness technology's positives and foster real-life connections, as over-reliance on virtual interaction can negatively impact physical connections.
While technology, specifically social media, can bring about many benefits, it's essential to establish guardrails to ensure it leads to positive physical connections among people instead of just virtual ones. The comparison made was between cars and social media, where cars, initially dangerous, evolved with safety measures, and social media can do the same with the right societal advocacy. The US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, emphasized the need for social connections and expressed concern about the decline in such connections due to students' reliance on technology for social interaction. An example of this was an app called "Let's Get a Meal," which aimed to help students find dining companions using technology instead of engaging in person. As a society, it's crucial to harness the positives of technology and advocate for guardrails to foster real-life connections.
Impact of Technology on Social Connection Varies by Region: Regions with more passive social media use and negative news may negatively impact youth's well-being and mental health. Active use and balanced news exposure can promote positive connections.
Technology's impact on social connection may vary between regions, with youth in North America and Australia potentially spending more time on social media and being exposed to more negative news compared to Europe and Africa. This could contribute to decreased well-being and mental health. The type of social media use also matters – passive use is not beneficial, while active use that involves reaching out to others can be positive. Additionally, news media in English-speaking regions may be more conflictual and negative, further impacting youth's mental health. To mitigate this, we could consider reducing notifications for negative news and creating frameworks to balance out the attention-grabbing algorithms. Overall, it's essential to be aware of these trends and take steps to promote positive social connections and limit the negative effects of technology and news on youth.
Supporting kids in a complex world: Parents should listen, collaborate and create supportive communities to help kids navigate societal pressures, technological uncertainties, and peer influences.
In today's complex world, it's essential for parents to understand the challenges their kids face and work to create supportive communities. With societal pressures, technological uncertainties, and peer influences, young people need empathy and collaboration from their parents. Instead of trying to control their children's use of technology, parents should listen and collaborate with their communities to create healthier norms. By recognizing the difficulties young people encounter, parents can foster understanding and work towards positive change. This includes coordinating with other parents and school boards to address peer pressures and inequalities, ultimately making it easier for individuals to engage in practices that promote happiness. For teenagers, the advice is to stay informed and seek support when needed. Understanding the complexities of the world and advocating for healthy norms within their communities can help them navigate the challenges they face.
Managing Time and Social Media for Better Well-Being: Set boundaries on social media, engage in prosocial behaviors, and prioritize actual social connections for improved well-being.
In today's complex world, it's crucial to take control of your time and set boundaries against social media platforms. Social connection is the key to improving well-being, both for yourself and others. Engage in prosocial behaviors, such as volunteering and helping strangers, to boost your own happiness. While youth mental health may be declining in some areas, there's hope for improvement through societal and individual changes. Actual social connections, both online and offline, are more beneficial than remote or virtual ones. Positive trends in happiness are emerging in the Global South and Europe, and understanding the factors contributing to these improvements can provide valuable insights.
Economic convergence and youth well-being in Eastern Europe: Economic stability and social safety nets contribute to improved youth well-being in Eastern Europe, with some countries prioritizing child health and education for long-term societal benefits.
The economic convergence between Eastern Europe and the rest of the world, driven by globalization, has led to significant improvements in youth well-being in these countries. This wealth transfer and the foundations for a welfare state in place in Eastern Europe have contributed to a rising tide that benefits everyone, making Central and Eastern European countries some of the most exciting cases to study in positive psychology. Additionally, some countries are prioritizing child well-being, with Japan being a notable example. Their focus on child health and education pays off in the long run, not only for the children but also for the overall well-being of their societies. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of economic stability and social safety nets in promoting youth well-being.
Teaching Happiness Skills is Crucial for Students' Well-Being and Academic Performance: Programs like 'be well' and 'science of well-being for teens' promote mental well-being and academic success through life skill courses and tracking their impact.
There is a growing recognition that beyond academic achievements, teaching life skills and promoting mental well-being is crucial for creating happier, more balanced individuals. This is especially important in the era of social media where young people need guidance on navigating emotional health. Programs like Manchester's "be well" initiative are leading the way by introducing life skill courses and tracking their impact on students' well-being and academic performance. The question is, can we have both great test scores and happy, fulfilled lives? The answer is yes, and initiatives like the science of well-being for teens at Coursera are making this accessible to younger audiences. Additionally, medical professionals, including doctors, are starting to pay more attention to happiness as a crucial aspect of overall health. California is even building a workforce of certified wellness coaches to help young people improve their mental health and well-being. Ultimately, teaching happiness skills should be as important as teaching math and literature, and it's never too early to start.
Exploring San Diego for personal rejuvenation and Canva for professional growth: San Diego offers opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation, while Canva presentations provide a game-changing solution for creating effective work decks with AI-powered technology.
A trip to San Diego can provide an opportunity for rest, recharge, and revitalization. Meanwhile, in the professional world, Canva presentations offer a game-changing solution for creating effective work decks. With AI-powered technology, Canva presentations generate captivating slides from simple prompts, keeping you focused on your presentation design without the need for constant app switching. Suitable for various workplaces and departments, Canva presentations can help you excel in your next work presentation. So, whether you're seeking personal rejuvenation or professional growth, consider exploring the offerings of sandiego.org and Canva.com.
