UK Teenagers Facing "Happiness Recession" with Lower Life Satisfaction Than European Counterparts

UK Children Face "Happiness Recession" Compared to European Counterparts

The UK's children are experiencing a "happiness recession" compared to their European counterparts, according to a new report by the Children's Society. The report found that young people in Britain have lower life satisfaction than those in other European countries, with girls and children from disadvantaged backgrounds being particularly affected.

The report, based on data from various research studies, paints a worrying picture of the wellbeing of teenagers in the UK. The Programme for International Student Assessment survey for 2022 showed that a quarter of 15-year-olds in the UK had low life satisfaction, ranking bottom of 27 countries and well above the European average of 17%. This figure rose to over 30% for 15-year-old girls in the UK, compared to an average of 21% in other European countries.

The report also highlights the significant gap in life satisfaction between children from different socioeconomic backgrounds in the UK. Research suggests that the 25% most advantaged 15-year-olds have significantly higher life satisfaction than the most disadvantaged 15-year-olds. This indicates that socio-economic inequalities continue to have a major impact on children's wellbeing in the UK.

The Children's Society's annual household survey found that children aged 10 to 17 living in households experiencing financial strain were more likely to have low life satisfaction than their peers. Additionally, the UK Household Longitudinal Study found that the average wellbeing of children aged 10 to 15 was lower in the year to 2022 than when the survey began a decade prior.

Mark Russell, chief executive at The Children's Society, expressed concern about the findings, stating that "alarm bells are ringing" and that UK teenagers are facing a "happiness recession." He emphasized the need for urgent action to address these issues, particularly for girls and children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Children's Society has called for the government to prioritize children's wellbeing and has published a proposed roadmap outlining concrete steps to address these national challenges. The government has acknowledged the pressures teenagers are facing and has stated that it is taking action to improve the life chances of every child. This includes developing an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty and providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school.