Georgia teens rank near the bottom nationally for happiness, scoring just 5 out of 10 according to their parents. This falls below the national average of 5.5, according to a new survey from Mission Prep that gathered responses from 3,012 parents across America.

Kansas teens topped the happiness chart with a 9 out of 10 score, while Mississippi teens ranked lowest at just 2 out of 10.

🧠 Why It Matters: Teen mental health directly impacts academic performance, family dynamics, and future success. The differences between states suggest local factors like community resources, economic conditions, and cultural environments play significant roles in teen wellbeing.

📱 By The Numbers:

72% of Georgia parents say their teen’s happiness has remained stable over the past year
19% report improvement (7% significant, 12% slight)

9% noticed declining happiness
Georgia teens spend an average of 3 hours and 32 minutes daily on social media
45% of teens nationwide are described as “thriving”

35% are “managing” but stressed
20% are either “struggling” or “at risk”

🔍 In Context: The survey identified key stressors affecting teens:

31% struggle most with peer relationships and social dynamics
30% feel pressure from social media and screen time
22% face stress from academic demands

10% deal with family conflict
6% worry about household finances

❤️ What Makes Teens Happy: Despite digital distractions, traditional sources of joy still dominate:

23% find most happiness spending time with friends
16% connect with pets or animals
15% value family moments

14% enjoy physical activity
Only 6% list social media as a primary source of happiness

🤔 What’s Next: The findings suggest parents, educators and community leaders should focus on strengthening real-world connections and creating more opportunities for teens to engage in activities that genuinely boost happiness – particularly face-to-face social interactions, time with pets, and family activities.

B.T. Clark

Publisher at The Georgia Sun

B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.