The group is at the bottom of European rankings in terms of life satisfaction across 27 nations, according to an analysis by the Children's Society.
In the UK 25% of 15-year-olds reported low life satisfaction, compared with 7% of Dutch children of the same age-the lowest level among any of the countries surveyed.
Girls and teenage children from disadvantaged backgrounds in Britain are particularly affected, with food poverty highlighted as a significant reason behind the poor well-being numbers.
"Alarm bells are ringing," said Mark Russell, the chief executive of the Children's Society. "UK teenagers are facing a happiness recession, with 15-year-olds recording the lowest life satisfaction on average across 27 European nations." In 2021-22, children aged 10 to 15 recorded mean scores for happiness with their life as a whole, as well as with their friends, appearance, school and schoolwork, that were all significantly lower than in 2009-10, the report found.
This story is from the August 29, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the August 29, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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