326. Feeling poorer than their friends harms kids’ mental health
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Children who feel poorer than their friends have worse mental health than those who are or who feel equal or richer than their friends. In a new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, researchers from the University of Cambridge analyzed perceived economic inequality within friendship groups of almost 13,000 11-year-olds. They found that children who felt poorer than their friends had lower self-esteem, more anxiety, more issues with anger and hyperactivity, and were more likely to be bullied. On the other hand, the children who felt richer than friends were three to five percent more likely to bully others.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
