London:

Experts often highlight social media and tough economic times as the main reasons for young people. People are getting unhappy. And while those factors are important, I’d like to emphasize one more.

Younger generations have less freedom and autonomy than previous generations. An area where children are allowed to go outside unsupervised. 90% shrunk Since 1970.

Parents increasingly organize entertainment – ​​from play dates and sports and music classes to family cinema trips – for their children, rather than letting them come up with it themselves. Perhaps this may help explain recent reports that many teenagers today. Choose to be locked in your bedroom..

Childhood lack of independence is not the only result of parental control. Social expectations and school policies also have a large influence.

It’s important to note that barriers to freedom are often well-intentioned, such as security concerns (location tracking, for example) or cultural norms. Clearly, no one wants to be the parent who allows their child to take (perceived) risks if others don’t. But there are also dangers of over-protecting children. This may inadvertently hinder their psychological development.

Emotional, social and cognitive effects

Psychologist Jean Piaget emphasized the importance of exploration and experimentation in cognitive development in the 1950s. He said that children develop their own understanding of the world. Through active engagement with its environment. By restricting children’s age-appropriate freedom to explore and take risks, we deprive them of opportunities for intellectual curiosity and innovation.

Lack of independence can undermine young people’s sense of agency and control over their lives. And research in psychology consistently shows that when people, young or old, feel powerless and constrained by external forces, such as parental supervision or societal expectations, It can lead Despair, helplessness and low self-esteem.

Moreover, the absence of autonomy limits opportunities for self-discovery, creativity and personal growth for young people. When children are constantly guided and supervised, they miss out on invaluable experiences in problem solving, decision making and learning from mistakes.

Decreased independence can have implications for social and emotional development. Children can find love, support and attention in the family unit. But spending too much time with parents can lead to difficulties getting along with peers, who do not provide unconditional love and support.

In fact, when children are constantly surrounded by adults and structured activities, they may struggle to develop meaningful relationships, assertiveness, and resilience. Research is highlighted. The importance of peer interaction In the formation of social competence and emotional intelligence. After all, parents may not require you to empathize with them, but friends will.

By structuring play dates and entertainment, parents may inadvertently limit their children’s ability to navigate social dynamics. This will include learning empathy and developing interpersonal skills independently. It will also set an expectation that children will internalize the idea that “parents will do things so I don’t have to” – leading to further lack of success.

Lack of independence can also contribute to feelings of boredom, restlessness, and disengagement. Humans need to engage in activities that challenge and absorb our attention. Leads to feelings of fulfillment and happiness. When children are constantly entertained and supervised, they may struggle to find activities that naturally capture their interest and provide a sense of purpose and enjoyment.

This is important. In Defining Happiness, Positive Psychology Emphasizes both emotional aspects.such as experiencing positive emotions, and the cognitive aspect, which includes a sense of overall satisfaction with one’s life, including meaning and purpose.

research is shown Autonomy-supportive parenting, encouraging children to make their own decisions and take responsibility for their own actions, is associated with better psychological well-being in adolescents.

Conversely, excessive parental control is associated with High levels of emotional distress and low levels of life satisfaction in adolescents.

School environment also plays an important role. Zero-tolerance policies, strict disciplinary measures and standardized testing are common. But overly harsh and punitive disciplinary practices are associated with it. Decreased intrinsic motivation and academic engagement among students.

Recent developments in response to security concerns, such as increased monitoring and surveillance in schools, further intrude on students’ autonomy and independence. Metal detectors, security cameras and random searches ultimately create an environment of surveillance and control.

Freedom according to age

Evidence supports the idea that independence and autonomy are critical to youth happiness and well-being.

There are age-appropriate ways to give your children independence. For example, a five-year-old child may be allowed and encouraged to butter his toast, make his bed, or play by himself in the garden. Meanwhile, a 10-year-old should be able to get to and from school on his own, be responsible for his homework and keep his place clean.

And when children reach the age of 15, you can encourage them to cook family meals, do laundry and travel independently rather than being controlled by their parents at school, clubs or friends’ houses. arrange for

It may also be helpful to refuse to provide entertainment from time to time, so that they can do something on their own. Children are incredibly creative and if they have nothing to do, they will often think of something eventually. This can also apply to play dates. It’s okay to invite a child’s friend without having any specific entertainment in mind.

Going forward, it is important to foster environments that promote autonomy, self-expression and independent learning, both at home and in educational institutions, to support youth growth and happiness.

(the author:Fiorentina StrkajSenior Lecturer, Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, University of East London)

(Disclosure Statement:Fiorentina Sterkaj does not work for, consult with, participate in, or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and she has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond her academic appointment. of)

This article has been republished. Conversation Under Creative Commons License. read Original article.

(Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)