Parents in the U.S. stressed and burned out becomes public health concern, according to advisory
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Parents in the united states are overwhelmed and burned out with the dizzying pace of the world -- and it has become a public health concern. That's according to a surgeon general's advisory released on Wednesday August 29th.
The advisory cited a 20-23 survey of adults from the american psychological association. Researchers found that 33-percent of parents reported high levels of stress in the past month compared to 20-percent of other adults.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General says "parental stress is real and it's widespread and we don't always see it because parents don't always talk about it."
The advisory describes how parents are now spending many more hours on both work and primary child care. The demands have come at the cost of quality time with one's partner, sleep and parental leisure time. The strain is even greater on parents caring for aging parents or other loved ones.
"48% of parents are saying that on most days they feel completely overwhelmed by stress. Parents are trying to figure out how to contend with a youth, mental health crisis and a loneliness epidemic that is hitting kids really hard right now," said Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General.
The advisory called for a shift in policy and cultural norms. That includes recognizing that time spent parenting is equal to time spent working at a paying job. As well calling for national paid family and medical leave sick time for all workers and more support for financial assistance for child care.
