Edit: Thanks everyone for your contributions to the discussion. I think it's helped my clarify the focus of what I was asking better. Specifically, I am interested in how can we support youth wellbeing if their ability to interact with PEERS is constrained because of social distancing protocols. What are some protective factors or strategies that can make up for deficits in social interaction with peers at this time?
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Original question:
There are a lot of articles in the news about the detrimental effect of the pandemic on children and youths' mental health - the main argument is always around the decrease in opportunities for social interaction with their peers. While I don't doubt that social interaction with peers is a developmental milestone for adolescents, I do wonder to what degree this emphasis on PEER interaction specifically is culturally bound?
In western cultures, kids generally go to school and are sorted by age and grade and therefore interact primarily with their peers. But in some cultures this type of sorting is not predominant. Also, what about children who are homeschooled? Who live in rural areas? Who are only-children? There are variety of scenarios where children don't have as much interaction with kids their age. What do you think, research community? Is PEER social interaction, the kind they would get at school, essential to child and adolescent development? Or is social interaction in general, regardless of age group, the essential part? Can you point me to any interesting reads in this area of study?
This reference might be helpful to you:
Orben, A., Tomova, L., & Blakemore, S. J. (2020). The effects of social deprivation on adolescent development and mental health. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health 4(8), 634-640. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30186-3
Yes, mental health is closely related to social support... Article Assessment on Social Support among School going Adolescents:...
Harikrishnan U. yes for sure, but do they only need social support from peers and in person (that is the narrative in the media)? Or can social support from adults, interaction with younger kids, volunteering opportunities, attenuate for deficits in peer socialization during the pandemic?
During the teen years, peer interactions are extremely critical to the further development of the self and others, and sets the base to further differentiation and separateness. This is the prelude to leaving home and creating the family-of-choice over the family-of-origin.
Rich
Without a doubt YES, since the gang and the peer group is a key, necessary and irreplaceable element, at these ages, for adequate psychosocial development and adequate socialization.
Of course, I absolutely have to answer YES! It is an essential stage in the socialization process and, therefore, essential for the psychosocial development of adolescents and to achieve adequate PSYCHOSOCIAL MATURITY.
In light of what I asked above, I'm curious if anyone has read this book? Their central thesis is that peer attachement competes with attachment to parents in our current context and leads to a lot of the difficulties that kids now have, including anxiety, depression, etc. https://drgabormate.com/preview/hold-on-to-your-kids-chapter-one/
Is crucial. this is part of each person's development process. The peer group functions as a type of transition between childhood and adulthood. Lack of meaningful membership in a peer group, particularly a positive group, often creates various developmental challenges in both individual mental health and social membership.
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