Childhood happiness has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, with more than 200,000 children unhappy with their lives, according to a report.
For the first time since it was launched in 2009-10, the annual Good Childhood report found overall contentment among 10- to 15-year-olds has dipped below eight on a scale of one to 10. It now stands at 7.89 on average, down from a high of 8.21 in 2011, at a time when adult wellbeing is improving.
Almost 5% of those surveyed reported happiness scores below five out of 10, suggesting about 219,000 children in the UK are unhappy.
The Children’s Society, which conducted the research, said the decline in childhood happiness was a national scandal. The charity called on Boris Johnson to move the issue to the top of his agenda and introduce a national measurement of children’s wellbeing.
The report is based on an annual survey of about 2,400 households and a longitudinal study involving 40,000 households.
It found a significant dip in contentment about friends and school among both boys and girls and an increase in unhappiness among boys about their appearance.
Happiness with friends dropped from an average of 8.99 out of 10 in 2009-10 to 8.59 last year. And 2.8% of the children surveyed are unhappy with their friends. The report also found 11.8% are unhappy with school, the highest level since the survey began.
Historically, boys have been happier about their appearance than girls, but the gap is closing, according to the data. The proportion of boys saying they are unhappy with their looks increased to 7.7%, equivalent to 180,000. The proportion of girls unhappy with their appearance is similar to previous years at 13.8% – equivalent to 310,000.
Asked why he is unhappy with his appearance, one boy surveyed said: “Like Instagram and stuff, right? You see all these models, you see all these weightlifters, bodybuilders, and you look at yourself and you’re like: ‘I look like a stick.’ I feel like we’re exposed to a lot more, so we are less secure about our appearance.”
The survey also showed 33% of children are very or quite worried about whether they will have enough money in the future, and 29% worry they will not find a job. Forty-two per cent are very or quite worried about crime and 41% are very or quite worried about the environment. Only 24% are worried about Brexit.
Richard Crellin, the policy and research manager at the Children’s Society, said the research provided observational data, so it was difficult to pinpoint reasons for the decline in childhood happiness.
But he added: “Children appear to be having declining happiness with their friends, which is concerning. And boys have seen a significant decline in how they feel about their appearance. It is too soon to report a trend, but there were also big dips this year in [happiness about] school and schoolwork. If that continues it would suggest young people are finding school increasingly difficult.
“The latest ONS data for adults suggests wellbeing is increasing and improving. Adults tend to be slightly less happy than children, but the proportion with high wellbeing is improving, whereas it is declining for children.”
Mark Russell, the chief executive of the Children’s Society, said: “Modern childhood is a happy and carefree time for most, yet for too many it is not. It is a national scandal that children’s unhappiness is increasing so quickly.
“We are urging the government to introduce a national measurement of children’s wellbeing so we can really listen, respond and show young people they matter.”
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said the report should act as “wake-up call to ministers”.
He added: “Our children’s health should be a national priority, yet after nine years of austerity, the government’s response to the issue of child health has been piecemeal as it continues to squeeze the NHS and take money from our public health system and schools.”
A government spokeswoman said: “We want young people growing up in a modern Britain to feel confident tackling the challenges life throws at them. That is why we’re giving teachers the power to deal with bad behaviour and bullying in the classroom, investing billions every year in mental health support for young people, and providing quicker access to specialist treatment where needed.”
