Girls are growing with a rising number of external pressures, making their transition into teen and adulthood far more psychologically disturbing than it used to be.
Research shows sharp spikes in depression and anxiety among girls in recent years, at rates notably higher than boys.
In her new book, “Girls on the Brink: Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Social Media,” Donna Jackson Nakazawa looks into why this is the case.
CNN spoke with Nakazawa about new brain science on girls and puberty, and how our fast-paced, online lifestyle doesn’t work well with our psychological needs.
CNN: What is it about this moment in time that makes life so much more emotionally challenging for teenage girls?
Donna Jackson Nakazawa: There is so much focus on performance and competition.
Our children are missing that important part of childhood, those in between years, ages 7 to 13.
We’ve replaced that with a fast-moving culture and have also added in social media, which kids are not supposed to be on until age 13, but many get on much earlier.
As parents of girls you must become aware of these demands and encourage your daughters to communicate with you so that together you can deal with them.
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