The number of teenagers aged 10 to 15 who are not satisfied with their lives has almost doubled in 10 years.
Teenagers dissatisfied with their lives
According to the Children’s Society website, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Essex found that 6.7% of British teenagers aged 10 to 15 in 2018 were unhappy, twice as much as 3.8% in 2009 to 10.
Since this figure was a survey conducted before the COVID-19 era, it recorded a high number even though the negative impact of COVID-19 was not included. Factors that teenagers are dissatisfied with their lives include school life, relationships with friends, and concerns about their appearance.
“Children’s welfare has been on the decline for 10 years and it is very painful,” Mark Russell, head of the Children’s Society, told the media Guardian. He added, “The unhappiness I feel at this time can be a warning signal for potential problems in my late teens.”
The probability of mental disorders can increase before the age of 20.
According to the report, 14-year-olds who are actually dissatisfied with their lives are quite likely to have mental health problems before they turn 17.
Based on the findings, Russell stressed that the government should develop an action plan to improve children’s welfare, evaluate children’s happiness every year, and improve access to appropriate mental health services.
Tom Madders, director of the mental health charity Young Minds, told the Guardian: “It is shocking to see the level of happiness of young children and young people falling further and thousands of people are generally dissatisfied with their lives.”
“The past year has been incredibly difficult for many young people struggling to cope with social isolation, loneliness, and worries about the future,” he said. “But COVID-19 is only part of the pressure they feel and faces many other pressures that adversely affect their lives.”