Is Parental Stress Getting Worse?
In September 2024 the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents. In it, he declares the mental health and well-being of parents an urgent public health issue.\nIn this episode we discuss the revealing research included in this report, stating that parents consistently report higher levels of stress compared to other adults.\xa0\nBut is parenting really more stressful than ever? This advisory certainly highlights many reasons why it just might be: the increasing costs of childcare and housing, the increasing hours parents spend at work, the increasing anxiety around guns and our kids\u2019 safety at school, and the unrealistic expectations created by what the report calls a \u201cculture of comparison.\u201d\xa0\nWe think making a change requires more than parents looking on the bright side\u2014we need societal changes and better support systems like paid family leave. We can also all do more to foster a culture that values and supports parents, ensuring their well-being and the positive development of future generations. We\u2019d like to think this podcast and this community are part of that culture. Let\u2019s keep fighting for the support, and the respect, that all parents deserve.\nHere are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:\n\nJeremy Engle for the New York Times: Are Parents Stressed Out?\n\n\nClaire Cain Miller for the New York Times: Today\u2019s Parents: \u2018Exhausted, Burned Out and Perpetually Behind\u2019\n\n\nDepartment of HHS on YouTube: The Surgeon General's Advisory on Parent's Mental Health\n\n\nHouse Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy: "Parents Are Under Pressure\u2014And We Can All Help"\n\n\nDepartment of Health and Human Services: U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents\n\n\n\nWe love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:\nhttps://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/\nmom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips,\xa0mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid\u2019s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, parental stress, kids stress\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices