Most young people in the UK experience a sharp decline in their well-being during their first years at secondary school, regardless of their circumstances or background, a study has suggested.
Researchers from Cambridge University and Manchester University analysed the well-being and self-esteem of more than 11,000 young people from across the UK, using data collected when they were 11, and again when they were 14.
The teenagers’ overall “subjective well-being”, defined as their satisfaction with different aspects of life, such as friends, school and family, dropped significantly during the intervening years. It is widely accepted that young people’s well-being and mental health are influenced by factors such as economic circumstances and family life. The research shows that, notwithstanding this, well-being tends to fall steeply and across the board during early adolescence. That decline is probably linked to the transition to secondary school at age 11, according to the study’s authors.
