#Youthwellbeing

A new study yields important insights into how screen time relates to mental health, reinforcing growing calls for a balanced, context-rich approach to digital life rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription. While the researchers emphasize that the link is not simply a matter of “more hours equals worse mood,” they point to important mediators—sleep disruption, the quality of online interactions, and how screens influence daily routines—that can steer outcomes for better or worse. For Thai families navigating a world where smartphones are almost universally present, the findings offer a practical framework for reducing risk while preserving the benefits of connectivity, information access, and educational support.

A new survey found that 64% of young people feel anxious about the future.
This anxiety links to online safety fears, the rising cost of living, and job insecurity (Samsung UK).

This finding matters for Thai families.
Thai adolescents already show high rates of psychological distress and depressive symptoms in recent studies (Bangkok high school study; Thai adolescent depression study).

The Samsung survey interviewed 1,000 UK children aged 11–15.
It found 64% felt anxious about the future and 61% worried about the cost of living (Samsung UK press release).

Sixteen-year-old Natthaya sits at her bedroom desk, university brochures in view, while her parents discuss rising education costs downstairs. Her worry isn’t unique. A global survey by Samsung UK found that 64% of teenagers experience anxiety about their future, with concerns ranging from economic stability to digital safety and job prospects.

For Thai families, these findings carry urgent implications. Local studies from Bangkok hospitals and national mental health surveys show that Thai adolescents already experience high levels of psychological distress, with nearly four in ten teenagers screening positive for risk factors associated with depression.

Sixteen-year-old Natthaya sits at her bedroom desk, staring at university brochures while her parents discuss rising education costs downstairs. She’s not alone in her worry. A groundbreaking survey by Samsung UK reveals that 64% of teenagers experience debilitating anxiety about their future, with concerns ranging from economic instability to digital safety fears and uncertain job prospects.

For Thai families, this global trend carries particularly devastating implications. Recent medical research from Bangkok hospitals and national mental health studies paint an alarming picture: Thai adolescents already demonstrate some of Southeast Asia’s highest rates of psychological distress, with nearly four in ten teenagers screening positive for clinical depression risk factors.

A growing body of research and first-person reporting shows grief camps — short, structured programs combining peer support, art therapy and ritual — can reduce anxiety and boost self-concept for bereaved children while giving families practical coping tools. A recent USA Today immersion at a Washington, D.C. day grief camp described children painting memory flags, practicing mindfulness and laughing between tears, illustrating how structured, age-appropriate activities can make grief feel less isolating for young people (USA Today). New systematic reviews and meta-analyses now back up those on-the-ground observations, offering guidance for Thai policymakers, schools and community groups seeking culturally sensitive ways to support bereaved children.

A new wave of grief camps is reshaping how children cope with loss, offering Thai families practical, culturally resonant support. In these programs, children participate in small peer groups, express memories through art, and learn coping skills that reduce anxiety while strengthening connections with others who understand their pain. The approach blends peer support, creative activities, and therapeutic techniques to help children process bereavement and rebuild confidence.

Research cited by leading journals indicates grief camps can lower anxiety and improve self-esteem among bereaved youth. Data from Thailand’s public health landscape shows a growing need for psychosocial services as more families experience loss. Thailand’s Buddhist context provides a natural framework for these programs, which can be tailored to fit local beliefs, rituals, and family structures. The aim is to complement school counseling and clinical care with culturally adaptive, community-based support.

In the quiet corners of a Washington D.C. community center, seven-year-old children carefully paint colorful memory flags while sharing stories of grandparents who will never again prepare their favorite meals. This scene, documented by USA Today journalists, represents a breakthrough approach to childhood bereavement that could revolutionize how Thai families and schools support grieving young people. These innovative grief camps combine peer support, creative expression, and therapeutic activities to help children process loss while building resilience and connection with others who understand their pain.

A global study links smartphone use before age 13 to higher risks of mental health challenges, with girls showing greater vulnerability. The research highlights lower self-esteem, difficulties with emotional regulation, and increased thoughts related to self-harm. The findings, published in a respected developmental science journal, resonate with Thai families as device ownership rises and online connections deepen.

The analysis combines mental health data from nearly two million individuals across more than 160 countries, with strong participation from Asia. It reinforces concerns that early smartphone use exposes children to social media pressure, cyberbullying, and disrupted sleep. Each year earlier that a child gets a phone before 13 correlates with a further decline in overall well-being, underscoring a link between early exposure and psychological strain.

A groundbreaking global study has found that children who begin using smartphones before the age of 13 face a significantly increased risk of mental health challenges—especially young girls—with consequences including lower self-esteem, difficulty managing emotions, and even suicidal thoughts. The findings, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities and covered by media including Euronews, ABC News, and KHOU, are sending ripples through families, educators, and policymakers in Thailand as smartphone uptake among children soars.

Financial stress is harming mental health and disrupting sleep, a trend that hits Thai youth and working adults hardest as living costs rise. The issue travels beyond borders: a US study showed more than half of adults lose sleep over money worries, and many max out credit to cover essentials. Here in Thailand, local research confirms similar or greater distress, underscoring the need for culturally attuned support.

Chronic financial worry triggers a prolonged stress response, increasing allostatic load and raising risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, weakened immunity, and mental health struggles. Thai universities have highlighted the magnitude of the problem. A 2022 Bangkok study found about 40% of students experience frequent stress, around 30% endure persistent depression, and 4% have contemplated suicide. Debt from loans and informal lenders compounds the burden. Beyond campus, surveys show many Thai adults have faced mental health challenges in recent months, with stress, insomnia, and anxiety at the forefront.

A new wave of research is shedding light on the heavy toll financial stress is exacting on individuals’ mental health and sleep, with implications that resonate strongly in Thailand’s own escalating cost-of-living crisis. While a recent US-based study conducted by the Affordable Housing Hub found that over half of surveyed adults lose sleep over money worries, the underlying story has deep international relevance—including for Thai society, where struggles with financial anxiety, depression, and insomnia are rising sharply (ksby.com).

A wave of recent studies questions the assumption that more after-school activities always lead to better outcomes. New research suggests that excessive scheduling can harm children’s mental health and social development, especially when activities are pursued for parental or societal pressure rather than the child’s interest. This debate matters for Thai families and educators, where academics, sports, and arts are often viewed as essential steps toward success.

Around the world, parents face a familiar dilemma: should they nudge their child toward activities, even if the child resists? Many believe structured programs build skills academics alone cannot. Yet a 2024 study from the University of Georgia indicates that while moderate involvement can support cognitive and social growth, a heavy load yields diminishing returns and may harm emotional well-being. Researchers explain that the final hours of extra activities offer minimal cognitive gains and may negatively affect non-cognitive skills like resilience and self-regulation.

A growing body of research is challenging long-held beliefs about the value of pushing children into numerous extracurricular activities, with new studies warning that more is not always better — and that excessive scheduling may actually harm children’s mental health and social development. These findings, recently discussed in a widely read article from The Cut, have significant implications for parents and educators worldwide, including in Thailand, where academics, sports, and other out-of-class pursuits are often seen as essential paths to success.

A new digital grassroots movement is gaining momentum on American college campuses, where students, inspired by social media and a growing distrust of mainstream nutrition advice, are rejecting ultra-processed foods, plastics, and so-called “forever chemicals” in favor of a “crunchy,” whole foods lifestyle. As reported in a recent New York Post feature, this subculture—previously confined to niche communities—has found energised new leaders among young people broadcasting their holistic health crusades on TikTok.

A growing online conversation among university students in the United States is reshaping how young people think about food. Inspired by social media and a skepticism toward traditional nutrition guidance, some students are embracing a “crunchy” lifestyle that favors whole foods, reduced reliance on plastics, and concerns about forever chemicals. These conversations have spread through TikTok, drawing new leaders into a broader debate about what constitutes healthy eating.

Young influencers are using short videos to question campus dining norms, share homemade meals, and promote alternatives to ultra-processed foods. They emphasize ingredient literacy, self-care, and a preference for natural products. Health coaching and personal discovery play a central role as students seek a sense of identity through dietary choices.

A landmark study shows that teenagers who exhibit addictive patterns of using social media, mobile phones, or video games are up to three times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors than their peers. The research, published in JAMA, tracks youths over several years to examine compulsive screen use and suicidality rather than simply total time online. This shift in focus strengthens the call for nuanced mental health strategies in a digital age.

Recent global research shows that millions of children experience anxiety, and some everyday parenting habits may unintentionally amplify their worries. For Thai readers, this means reflecting on how cultural expectations, school pressures, and family dynamics shape a child’s emotional well-being. Across Thailand, educators and mental health professionals report similar patterns, particularly in demanding academic environments where resilience is prized but emotional support can be overlooked.

Anxiety in children can appear in many forms, from stomachaches and headaches to withdrawal or clinginess. In Thailand, teachers note that anxiety is often mistaken for shyness or misbehavior, especially when students face intense coursework or social scrutiny. Understanding these signals is crucial for early help and healthier coping strategies.

Millions of children worldwide are grappling with anxiety, yet many parents may be inadvertently worsening the problem through subtle, everyday behaviors, according to the latest research and expert analysis published by HuffPost on June 8, 2025 (HuffPost). Although anxiety is often associated with adults, a recent global analysis suggests that up to 20.5% of youth experience significant anxiety symptoms. This development has profound implications for families across Thailand, where cultural, societal, and familial expectations deeply influence child-rearing.

A new study shows that delaying bedtime is more about emotional well-being and personality traits than simply poor time management. The findings offer fresh guidance for Thai readers facing late nights in a bustling urban environment like Bangkok, and a national sleep deficit that affects health, education, and productivity.

In Bangkok and other Thai cities, late-night study, work, and socializing contribute to an ongoing sleep shortage. Data from Thailand’s National Statistical Office indicate that urban residents frequently do not get enough sleep, with potential implications for mental health and academic performance. This research provides a broader lens on why sleep can be elusive in fast-paced Thai life.

A new study reveals that procrastinating bedtime—a common struggle for many young adults—may be shaped more by underlying emotional health and personality traits than by simple poor time management, offering fresh insights for those in Thailand grappling with late nights and insufficient sleep. The research, set to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting, highlights higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of conscientiousness and extraversion among individuals who routinely delay going to bed even without external obligations, findings that suggest new directions for sleep-related interventions and wellness strategies (Neuroscience News).

A groundbreaking study has found that testosterone intensifies young men’s emotional reactions to social approval and rejection, reshaping how moment-to-moment self-esteem is formed. The research, published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, sheds new light on the psychological effects of this hormone, offering insights relevant both to mental health treatment and to understanding male vulnerability to social evaluation (PsyPost).

This discovery matters for Thai readers because self-esteem and mental health issues, particularly among men, are pressing concerns in Thailand’s rapidly changing society. In a culture where social harmony and hierarchical relationships often play a central role, understanding how testosterone shapes self-confidence and social behavior may help families, educators, and healthcare professionals better support young Thai men facing emotional challenges.

A new study reveals that testosterone intensifies young men’s emotional responses to social approval and rejection, influencing how self-esteem fluctuates with daily interactions. Published findings in scientific journals highlight the nuanced role of biology in mood and social behavior, offering fresh angles for mental health treatment and youth support. In Thailand, where social harmony and hierarchical relationships shape everyday life, these insights are especially relevant for families, educators, and healthcare professionals guiding young men through emotional challenges.

As summer holidays begin and school schedules wind down, a growing body of research underscores a critical link between regular exercise and the mental well-being of teenagers. A new nationwide survey conducted by Planet Fitness in the United States, highlighted by Parents.com, reveals that an overwhelming 90% of teens say exercise makes them feel happy—yet half also admit their physical activity drops sharply during the summer break. For Thai families, where rising concerns about youth mental health mirror global patterns, these findings renew urgent questions about how to maintain teenagers’ motivation for healthy movement year-round.

As summer holidays begin and schools wind down, research increasingly links regular exercise with better mental well-being for teenagers. A nationwide survey in the United States found that 90% of teens say exercise makes them feel happy, yet many admit their activity drops during long breaks. For Thai families, rising concerns about youth mental health echo global trends, prompting questions about sustaining motivation for healthy movement year-round.

This topic matters in Thailand, where shifts in lifestyle and screen time influence teen habits. Data from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and UNICEF Thailand show rising sedentary behavior, while recent local studies indicate that regular physical activity boosts well-being into adulthood. With school-based sports paused during holidays, families and educators face the challenge of keeping teens engaged in movement.