The Good Childhood Report
Our Good Childhood Report 2021 shows that modern life continues to erode the happiness of young people. Dissatisfied with school, friendships and how they look, children deserve drastic change.
Our key findings
- An estimated 306,000 10-15 year olds in the UK are unhappy with their lives
- Roughly ¼ million children did not cope well with changes during the pandemic
- Young people are particularly unhappy about school and appearance
Decade of decline
Our tenth annual Good Childhood Report finds that 7% of 10 to 15 year olds (an estimated 306,000 children) in the UK are not happy with their lives.
Ten years ago, the estimated number was more like 173,000. Children's happiness is in an alarming state of decline.
Society is tragically failing our young people. School, friendships and how they feel about the way they look are causing the greatest dissatisfaction in adolescence.
At school you are under pressure to look pretty, wear make-up, have the right figure
Improving children's well-being
Young people's well-being and how they feel about appearance
More young people are unhappy with how they look. Over the years, boys have become more worried about their appearance.
Now, an estimated 1 in 8 boys are unhappy with how they look and 1 in 7 girls are feeling the pressure of looking good.
– young person
School
Alongside appearance, unhappiness with school has grown over the last ten years. In both cases teenagers are coming under pressure to adhere to high standards and it's affecting their well-being.
The proportion of children unhappy with their school lives has leapt from 1 in 11 ten years ago to 1 in 8.
the pressure is unhealthy for young people
young people's well-being and how they feel about the future
However, an estimated quarter of a million have struggled. Not being able to see their friends and family would’ve taken its toll on their well-being.
With the NHS planning to vaccinate children aged 12 and above, how do they feel about it? Around 62% of children and 66% of parents said they would be in favour of the vaccine. The rest didn't want it or were unsure.
Having enough money, being able to find a job and getting good grades were what children were most worried about in 2021. They also raised concerns about future pandemics and the environment. But many are optimistic.
What does this mean for young people's mental health?
Our well-being growing up can have a serious impact on future mental health. We found that children who are not happy with their lives at 14 are more likely than others to have symptoms of mental health issues by the time they are 17. Worryingly, this includes instances of self-harm and suicide attempts.
We cannot let this be the norm. We must overhaul daily life and build a society for all children.
If I were world leader, I would focus on mental health
The Good Childhood Report 2021
For more information about the dominant trends in children's well-being, read the full report.
