Summary here:
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/good-childhood-r...
Our key findings
- There has been a continued decrease in average happiness with life among 10-15 year olds in the UK.
- Happiness with friends is in decline.
- 15-year olds in the UK were among the saddest and least satisfied with their lives in Europe.
- The Coronavirus pandemic affected children’s happiness due to the lack of choice they had in life
Hit the restart button
Children’s happiness with life has been in decline for most of the last decade and this year is no exception. Worries about relationships with friends, appearance and school seem to be key factors. Even before the pandemic, 15-year-olds in the UK were among the saddest and least satisfied with their lives in Europe. It is time to listen to what young people need.
As we emerge from the coronavirus crisis, we can hit the restart button. We need to kick-start a decade of renewal for young people.
We looked more closely at the pressures that are making children unhappy. Among them, worries about appearance, friends and doing well at school.
‘They might be losing friends, or they might be very lonely during quarantine'
Fear of failure
With exam stress, bullying, and school culture, more and more young people are becoming unhappy with school.
Our report highlights the high levels of ‘fear of failure’ among 15 year olds in the UK compared to other countries. Many felt their life didn’t have a sense of purpose.
Our education system needs a rethink. Well-being and academic achievement should go hand-in-hand.
We compared children's well-being in the UK with other European countries.
The UK also had the largest drop in mean life satisfaction between 2015 and 2018 of the 21 comparable countries with data at both time points.
‘People who love me can make me happy even at the worst times'
Failing friendships
One of the most concerning trends is the decline in children’s happiness with friends.
There are an estimated 132,000 children aged 10-15 in this country have no close friends.
Friendships and unhappiness are often linked with social media, but it is more complicated than this.
Evidence of social media being a contributing factor is mixed.
Outside of school there is a crucial role for Youth Services in improving well-being and helping young people to form strong peer relationships.
‘They may feel like they can't trust their friends, or be serious with them.'
#WontBeSidelined
The cost of the coronavirus has been too high for so many children. But our report demonstrates just how bad things before the pandemic even began.
As children go back to school and we slowly emerge from the crisis, join us in asking the Government to put children’s well-being at the heart of our national recovery.
These toxic trends must not stand. We have to turn things around and restore hope.
It's time the Government listened.
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