Today’s modern world poses so many parental challenges. Our kids are exposed to so many adult things at a young age that it worries most of us.
And, one such matter that concerns every modern-day parent is – at what age should our kids be allowed to get involved in a romantic relationship?
Though some believe that handling a relationship of such nature prepares our kids to handle big emotions, some of us still feel that allowing our kids to engage in romantic relationships could be dangerous.
And, recently a research was conducted to understand the impact of school kids getting involved in the dating process.
The research submitted in Journal of School Health revealed that teenagers who aren’t dating have better mental health as opposed to their love-infected classmates.
As per the Daily Mail, the research covered 600 students at the University of Georgia. The researchers were able to find out four distinct dating groups from grade 6th to 12th.
Researchers analyzed the data collected from teachers as well as students.
And based on the detailed analysis, the researchers were able to deduce that kids not involved in a romantic relationship had better social skills and lower depression levels than their classmates.
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Additionally, the students with no romantic partner performed better than the rest of the students.
Even though the research states it is healthier for kids not to involve in the dating process at the early stage, the researchers wanted kids to be free to decide whether to date or not. Hence, the lead author Brooke Douglas, of the University of Georgia, said in a statement,
“In the end, school health educators, mental health professionals, and teachers should affirm social norms that support adolescents’ individual freedom to decide whether to date or not, indicating that both are acceptable and healthy options.“
Our media, more often than not, creates pressure on young teens to have a relationship – and even a sexual one.
To prove their attractiveness, many children feel the need to have a boyfriend or girlfriend at a certain age.
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As a parent, we need to build our child’s self-esteem so that they don’t need to go down that road too soon.
And, if our young kid appears to have an unusually close or inappropriate relationship at school, it is important to have an open dialogue with your child as it may affect not only the academic performance but also the mental health.
