Children's wellbeing a growing concern in UK, according to new report

A new report from The Children’s Society suggests that, for many children across the UK, wellbeing is in decline.

The latest findings from the Good Childhood research programme pull together the most up-to-date data on key themes shaping young people’s lives, including: wellbeing, social media, and gender, as well as unhappiness with appearance and with school.

While most children still describe themselves as leading relatively happy lives, the report is clear: too many are not. And some groups are consistently more likely to report low life satisfaction than others.

What is The Good Childhood Report?

The Good Childhood Report is an annual publication from The Children’s Society, drawing on long-running research into children and young people’s subjective wellbeing. It tracks trends over time, alongside deep-dives into the areas of life young people say matter most.

The 2025 report included consultations with a group of Young Advisors, as well as professionals working directly with children and young people. The Young Advisors conducted peer consultations, helping to ensure that the voices shaping the findings were those with lived experience.

While the 2025 edition outlined headline results, this latest report explores the themes in greater depth.

Key findings of The Good Childhood Report

Drawing on long-running data from the Understanding Society survey, alongside consultations with young people and professionals, the report highlights a sustained decline in children’s average life satisfaction since 2009/10, as well as these key issues:

Building pressures

Direct conversations with young people point to mounting pressures – from financial strain at home to academic expectations – set against what some describe as a weakening sense of community.

Certain experiences are closely linked with low wellbeing: financial hardship, feeling unsupported by family, having no friends, or being bullied. 

Lack of support 

Young people were clear in consultations that when they do struggle, support is not always available or accessible. Both they and professionals stressed the importance of at least one trusted adult who can step in when things feel overwhelming.

Girls more at risk

Gender differences remain one of the most concerning findings. In 2021/22 and 2022/23, girls aged 10 to 15 were significantly less happy than boys with their life overall, as well as with their appearance, family, and school. More girls than boys reported unhappiness across every wellbeing measure surveyed. 

The gap is particularly stark around appearance, with more than twice the proportion of girls than boys saying they were unhappy with how they look. Supporting data shows this gender divide is not unique to the UK, but UK 15-year-old girls reported lower life satisfaction than many of their European peers.

Self-esteem, school, and social media 

Appearance is now the single most common source of unhappiness among 10 to 15-year-olds, and although social media is often blamed, the evidence is more complex. High use appears to have a negative impact, but overall, digital engagement is not the main driver of changes in life satisfaction. Notably, the gender gap in appearance-related unhappiness was similar in the mid-1990s, long before today’s platforms existed.

In 2025, for the first time, children most commonly reported worrying about getting good grades. Many spoke of heavy workloads, peer pressures and bullying, while children transitioning into secondary school appear to be particularly vulnerable.

How to access mental health support for children and young people

We know that when there is an urgent need to support your child, it can be hard to know where to turn. But, there is support available.

• Any professional that works with children and young people should be able to help you access support. Try talking to your child’s teacher, school nurse, or GP.
• You can get free, confidential advice via the Young Minds Parents Helpline.
• Action for Children has guidance that can help you spot mental health issues in children and what you can do to help.
• You can find more information about NHS children and young people's mental health services (CYPMHS) on the NHS website.
• Read more about child counselling and connect with a qualified professional. 

While the report reveals concerning findings, the authors also call for a national wellbeing measurement programme to better understand these patterns and respond effectively. Because while many children are coping, too many are not – and their experiences deserve sustained attention, careful listening, and meaningful action.