Study Finds It's Not Screens Making Kids Anxious

Growing up, psychology professor Thomas Curran was the kind of kid who melted down if he colored outside the lines. Years later, a promising academic career nearly crumbled under the weight of his own impossible standards, leaving him crushed with anxiety and panic attacks.

His personal crisis led to a breakthrough. Curran realized perfectionism wasn't holding him up; it was tearing him down.

That revelation launched a research specialty that's now revealing troubling trends about young people worldwide. Curran and his team at the London School of Economics just published findings from over 300 studies examining 82,000 college students across the U.S., U.K., and Canada between 1989 and 2024.

The results show perfectionism has been steadily climbing for 35 years. This isn't about high achievers setting healthy goals or striving for excellence.

The research points to a specific type of perfectionism that's truly damaging. Young people increasingly believe they must be perfect to gain approval from others, and they're convinced the world around them demands flawlessness.

This matters because perfectionism of this kind doesn't just make kids cranky or hard to deal with. It prevents them from engaging in the messy but essential process of trying new things, screwing up, and learning from experience.

The pattern suggests something cultural is driving the increase, not genetics or individual personality traits. And for once, screens aren't the main suspect.

Why This Inspires

Understanding what's really driving youth anxiety opens the door to real solutions. Curran's journey from perfectionist kid to researcher shows that change is possible when we recognize the problem clearly.

His work gives parents, educators, and young people themselves a new framework for understanding mounting pressure. Instead of blaming technology or individual weakness, we can address the cultural messages telling kids they must be flawless to be worthy.

The research also validates what many young people already feel. When a professor who rose from working-class roots to academic success admits perfectionism nearly destroyed him, it sends a powerful message: the problem isn't you.

Identifying cultural drivers means we can work together to change them. Communities can push back against impossible standards, schools can celebrate learning from failure, and families can model self-compassion.

Most importantly, Curran's personal transformation proves perfectionism can be unlearned. He managed to change his own thinking and find relief, giving hope to anyone trapped in the same exhausting cycle.