Mental well being of teenage girls declining

Teenage girls in England have seen their mental well-being worsen in recent years, says research for the Department for Education.

The research highlighted the pressure of social media and near-constant use of mobile phones. The study compared experience of 14 year olds in 2014 with those of 2005 and found an increase in “psychological distress”.

The report tracked 30,000 people in 13,000 households, and found your people in 2014 were more “serious” than in 2005.

There was one positive to the report, it saw young people more engaged in school activity and wanting to go to university. It also found they are less likely to be involved in “risky” activities, such as smoking or getting involved in petty crime.

The negative effects were an increase in psychological problems, particularly among girls. There were also more problems for children growing up in single parent households. Researchers suggested that the sense of seriousness and the need to do well at school could reflect the changing economic climate.

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-37158441

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