American families have an increasingly bleak outlook, and 4 factors are driving their gloom

A striking 58% of parents and 61% of children and teens said that for families like theirs, things are going just fair or poorly. And the economy is just part of the problem.

Mar 25, 2025 - 20:53

American families have an increasingly bleak outlook, and 4 factors are driving their gloom

Despite America feeling more divided than ever, parents, at least, are on the same page when it comes to their outlook on the state of affairs for families in this country—as well as on the need for change, with 83% across party lines believing the government should prioritize policies that benefit younger generations, according to new survey results published Monday.

But that doesn’t mean it’s all good news.

Parents surveyed by Lake Research Partners and Echelon Insights on behalf of Common Sense Media painted a bleak portrait regarding the state of families across several categories—economic, mental health, technology, and connectedness to those in power. And a striking 58% of parents and 61% of children and teens said that for families like theirs, things in general are going just fair or poorly—although both groups are more optimistic when looking ahead, with 49% of parents and 44% of teens and kids feeling "hopeful" about the future for young people.

To find their answers, researchers conducted a pair of surveys, speaking with 1,300 parents and 1,100 kids and teens (12-17) nationwide, releasing findings on Monday in the State of Kids and Families in America 2025 report.

Below is a breakdown of the four main areas that are bringing feelings of doom and gloom to families, and where they say much improvement is needed.

Economic anxiety

Nearly three quarters of parents (73%) are concerned about children's future economic opportunities, and 39% with children under 18 say it’s become harder than last year to afford the things they need for them. Looking ahead, two-thirds (66%) lack confidence that their children will be able to afford housing, and 62% are not sure they'll be able to afford college. The youth surveyed, meanwhile, are more optimistic, with 68% saying they're confident they will someday be able to afford a house—despite recent news about Gen Z's economic situation that aligns more with the worry of their parents.

Mental health

The well-established mental health crisis in this country is urgent, with both parents and young people believing it deserves to be a top priority.

A majority of parents (54%) and 67% of kids and teenagers believe the mental health of children in their communities is just fair or poor. Both groups point to social media (parents: 28%; kids and teens: 27%) and lack of parental support and involvement (parents: 20%; kids and teens: 16%) as prime drivers of this crisis. Further, parents (48%) and kids and teens (54%) feel that schools are not doing enough to support students' mental health and well-being.

There is also a belief among parents that today's kids and teens are doing worse than they were 20 years ago when it comes to the following:

their ability to be resilient in the face of adversity (52% say worse off)
their ability to be independent and self-sufficient (55% worse off)
the foods they typically eat (53% worse off)
the air and water quality (60% worse off)
the amount of physical exercise they get (64% worse off)

Digital safety

Contributing to the mental health crisis and general negative feeling is the effect of technology on families, with nearly two-thirds of parents believing social media has negatively impacted children.

Both parents and youth overwhelmingly support having stronger safety measures for young users—with 81% of parents and 72% of kids and teens in favor of social media platforms being required to display warning labels about potential risks to mental health and well-being.

Parents also overwhelmingly support requiring age verification and blocking social media accounts for anyone under age 16—and although support is lower among kids and teens, a majority (54%) still back the idea.

Also, perhaps predictably, about two-thirds (64%) of parents think social media has had a mostly negative influence on kids and teens, while kids and teens believe the influence has been more positive (40%) than negative (33%).

Political leadership

Parents in both political parties want the government to play a role in supporting young people and prioritizing family policies—including 88% of Republicans, 83% of Democrats, and 75% of independents. But they share a major lack of trust in government institutions, with 61% of parents and 61% of kids and teens feeling their voices "do not matter" in policy decisions.

And families across the spectrum are doubtful that leaders will come through for the next generation: Two-thirds or more of Democratic (68%), Republican (66%), and independent parents (75%) do not think elected officials do a good job of reflecting the needs, desires, and experiences of young people.

And that, ironically, is the good news—as is the shared belief of a solution, among 86% of parents, which is that better K–12 public schools would substantially improve children's lives.

"These findings reveal that despite our polarized political landscape, American families are unified in their concerns and solutions for our children," James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, said in a news release. "Parents and youth are sending a clear message to our leaders: prioritize education, mental health, and digital safety. The time for partisan politics is over when it comes to our kids' futures."