How happy is your teen?

How carefree are today’s teenagers?
Not very, according to a recent survey. Not in Louisiana. Not according to their parents.
A survey of 3,012 parents of adolescents nationwide by the Mission Prep website found that Louisiana parents gave their teens a score of 3 on a 1-to-10 happiness scale.
Mississippi is ranked lowest at 2/10. Louisiana is ranked near the bottom with Maine, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Alabama, all with 3/10.
Kansas has the happiest teens, the survey said, with their parents giving a score of 9/10.
Delaware, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Delaware have 8/10 scores.
“These differences point to bigger forces at play,” Mission Prep said. “In higher-ranking states, there’s often a sense of belonging or a buffer against stress.Think tight-knit towns or outdoor escapes.
“In the lower ranks, challenges like poverty, sparse mental health resources or a lack of opportunity might deepen the strain. Still, numbers only scratch the surface; parents’ firsthand observations fill in the gaps.”
Mission Prep asked  parents to reflect on their teens’ day-to-day experiences. The responses offer both concern and cautious hope.
On happiness trends, 72% of parents said their teen’s mood has held steady over the past year. Another 19% saw improvement, while 9% noticed a drop.
That stability could mean resilience, or it might signal a kind of emotional plateau, neither sinking nor rising.
What’s behind the stress? Here’s what the parents said:
•Peer relationships and social dynamics: 31% cited this; friendships, rivalries, and the push to fit in.
•Social media and screen time: 30% pointed to the digital world, where comparison and validation rule.
•Academic demands: 22% named school, with its high stakes and relentless pace.
•Family conflict (10%) and household financial worries (6%) also factored in, though less dominantly.
Screen time, in particular, stands out. Teens average 3 hours and 32 minutes daily on social media or personal devices, not counting homework. That’s a significant slice of their lives spent online, time that could cut into sleep, real-world connections, or simply unwinding.
Yet there are bright spots. Parents shared what brings their teens joy:
•Time with friends: 23% said this tops the list-face-to-face bonds still matter most.
•Pets or animals: 16% credited four-legged friends with lifting spirits.
•Family moments: 15% highlighted the value of togetherness at home.
•Physical activity (14%), creative pursuits (11%), and even solitude (8%) also help, while social media (6%) and school success (5%) rank lower.
Gauging mindset
How do parents see their teens’ current state? The survey offered four lenses:
•Thriving: vibrant, engaged, hopeful: 45% of teens fit here, a solid foundation.
•Managing: functional but stressed: 35% are in this middle space, coping but stretched.
•Struggling: low energy, moody, distant: 10% are finding it tough.
•At risk: showing signs of anxiety: 10% are cause for concern.
•Looking back to their own youth: 51% of parents said their teen’s happiness mirrors their own at that age. Meanwhile, 34% think their kids are happier —16% much more, 18% slightly —while 15% see less — 11% slightly, 4% much less. It’s a mixed bag, reflecting both timeless teenage struggles and today’s distinct challenges.