English Children Less Happy and Satisfied Than Those in Developing Countries

A new report, released by The Children’s Society, has suggested that children in England are less happy and satisfied than those in developing countries – including Romania, Brazil and South Africa. In fact, out of the eleven countries polled, English children came ninth – only ahead of South Korea and Uganda.

English Children Less Happy and Satisfied Than Those in Developing Countries - VoicED Education Market Research

English Children Less Happy and Satisfied Than Those in Developing Countries Says New Market Research

The Good Childhood Report considered the views of 16,000 children from the eleven countries, and warned that low levels of happiness and wellbeing could impair health, education and family life. Additional data within the survey suggested that across the UK almost half a million youngsters have low levels of wellbeing – happiness and satisfaction. According to the figures, one in eight English children were unhappy with their appearance – only young people living in South Korea were more unhappy with this area of their life.

English children were more likely to be positive about their life in terms of money and possessions, friends and home. They ranked sixth out of the 11 countries in these areas. The report found a link between a child’s level of wellbeing and their situation financially, with those suffering from the effects of the recession more likely to have a low level of wellbeing. Around a third of the respondents stated that their families has been affected either a ‘fair amount’ or a ‘great deal’ by the economic downturn.

The report found that young people who considered themselves to be poorer were two times as likely to say they were unhappy, and nearly three times more likely to say their satisfaction with life was low.

The study reviewed around 16,000 children of which 3,000 were from the England in school years four, six and eight. Other countries included in the survey were Romania, Spain, Israel, Brazil, USA, Algeria, South Africa, Chile, South Korea and Uganda.

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