Parents of teenagers in Germany report stress over wars, media use

More than three-quarters of parents of teenage children in Germany are stressed, a survey found on Tuesday.

The Parents in Focus 2025 study by the Körber Foundation in Hamburg said that the global political situation is among the greatest fears for parents, with 54% of the 1,000 respondents stating that wars and political crises cause stress.

Half reported having too little time for themselves or for hobbies, while 37% said they did not have enough time for their relationships and 36% admitted financial worries.

In many cases, their biggest concern as parents was media consumption, lack of motivation and poor performance at school.

Half of all parents took a critical view of their children's use of smartphones and tablets, with fathers slightly more concerned.

Two in three parents reported supporting their children directly with responsible media use.

Many parents would also like media skills to be taught at school, with 53% of respondents agreeing that responsibility is shared between the home and educational establishments.

The second focus of parents is their children's choice of career or studies, with 67% expressing concern that schools are failing to provide teenagers with sufficient knowledge and skills for a professional future.