Girls’ happiness has decreased over time, according to a new survey

Girl sitting sad by the window or wall

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Mental Health


Girls’ happiness has decreased over time, according to a new survey

By Habiba Katsha

2 years ago

3 min read

Girls’ happiness has fallen significantly over the years, according to this new survey. 


The number of girls who would characterise themselves as ‘very happy’ has fallen significantly, according to a new survey, with research showing that 40% of girls described themselves as very happy in 2009, a figure that dropped to just 17% in 2023.

The study also highlighted that 89% of girls aged seven to 21 feel worried or anxious. This has increased from 78% in 2016, with girls’ worries ranging from appearance pressures and online harms to being sexually harassed.

Girlguiding has been documenting girls’ feelings about their everyday lives for 15 years in its annual Girls’ Attitudes Survey. The survey highlights a steady decline in girls’ happiness year on year and an increase in stress and anxiety since 2009.

Appearance pressures

In 2009, 72% of girls aged seven to 21 said they were happy with how they looked. This decreased to 59% in 2023. 68% of girls aged 11-21 shared that they’d like to lose weight, while half admitted to being on a diet. A third of girls said they would consider plastic surgery, a figure that has risen from 29% in 2018 to 34% in 2023.

Worryingly, 62% of girls and young women aged seven to 21 reported being criticised for how they look. This seems to be linked to social media, with 67% of girls saying they often feel ashamed of the way they look because they’re not like the girls and women they see in the media and online.

It seems clear that the online world is having a massive effect on young women, with 39% of 11-21-year-olds stating that seeing images online where people are edited to look perfect makes them feel bad about how they look and feel.

illustration of woman worried

Credit: Getty; Stylist

Online harms

Alarmingly, nearly all girls in the UK have experienced some form of threatening or upsetting behaviour online. The number of young girls receiving abuse online has increased from 65% in 2018 to 81% in 2023 (among girls and young women aged 11-21). 83% of girls aged 13-21 reported seeing upsetting content, such as self-harm or suicide, and 73% have received unwanted sexual images.

The number of girls (as young as 13) receiving sexist comments online has more than doubled since 2018 (57% compared to 24%), while 41% of girls aged 11-21 revealed that they often feel sad or depressed after spending time online and on social media.

Girls as young as seven are experiencing harm online; 44% of seven to 10-year-olds said strangers have messaged them or sent friend requests while playing games online and 30% have been contacted by someone they don’t know online, compared to 16% in 2016.

Aspirations

When asked about their future, 48% of girls and young women aged 11-16 believe it’ll be harder to get a job when they leave education than it was for young people five years ago. Meanwhile, over half of girls and young women aged 11-21 are concerned that they will not be able to afford a home in the future.

Interestingly, girls’ aspirations have changed over the last 15 years. When thinking about what they’d like to achieve by the age of 30, girls aged seven to 21 placed greater value on owning their own home over having a partner, being married or having a worthwhile job.

Community

It’s not all bad news, though, as more girls and young women aged seven to 21 feel part of their local community compared to 2011.

38% of girls aged seven to 21 have done something to help a neighbour in the last year and three-quarters (75%) of girls aged 11-21 are involved in their communities in a voluntary capacity.

“The decline in happiness highlighted in this year’s survey findings made me feel quite sad and concerned for the girls who are growing up in this environment,” said Megan, a 21-year-old Girlguiding advocate.

“It is, however, not surprising to me. The pressures on girls, particularly in terms of appearance, online harms and sexual harassment, felt particularly resonant as I have watched multiple members in my own Girlguiding units struggle with these issues.”

Images: Getty

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