Children more worried about prices than climate crisis, crime: Study
4 Min Read
The report shows that more than 80% claim to be majorly concerned about the effect that the skyrocketing cost of living will have on their family over the next year.
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Children play at the childcare center of the Hopital Necker - Enfants Malades hospital in Paris (AFP)
A study by the Children’s Society in the UK has found that children and youth are becoming more concerned about increasing prices and their family's sustainability than about the environment or crime - and 1 in 10 children aged 10 to 17 are unhappy.
While the report says that over 2 million children in the UK are estimated to show more concern, nearly 3 million express pessimism about the future of the country or the world.
The report also shows that more than 80% claim to be majorly concerned about the effect that the skyrocketing cost of living will have on their family over the next year, with girls being less optimistic than boys about everything in their lives except for school matters.
Mark Russell, CEO of the Children’s Society, explained, "Life is just too hard for too many children,” adding, “It is a national scandal that children’s happiness continues to slide. It is really shocking that almost half of all young people feel gloomy about the state of our world... We need real leadership from government to turn this around."
"The need for improving children’s wellbeing is urgent," he continued.
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Nil Güzelgün, policy and campaigns manager at Mind, stated that the youth are the ones "bearing the brunt of the worst cost of living crisis in a generation. With almost a third of children in Britain living in poverty, it’s sadly unsurprising that so many are now feeling the impact on their wellbeing."
This report was released the same day a study by the food bank charity, the Trussell Trust, discovered that half of working households on universal credit payments were out of food and unable to buy more last month.
Youth happiness at its lowest
Universal credit, the main UK benefit for low-income or unemployed households, is claimed by 6 million people in the UK. The basic rate is at least £140 a month below the real cost of food, energy, and other basics.
Estimating that around 700,000 people on universal credit had to resort to charity food in the last month, the study revealed that those families on universal credit found it difficult to heat their homes and were more likely to skip meals and live without toiletries.
Russell said it is not surprising that the Children’s Society research saw the overall happiness level of youth hit its lowest point since the study began 12 years ago.
In light of the study, the Children’s Society is urging an increase in child benefits, in addition to establishing cabinet-level posts of minister for children not just in the UK but in Welsh governments as well. Further, it is calling on the UK government to consider children’s subjective well-being on an annual basis, namely that of girls.
UK chief executive of the Prince’s Trust, Jonathan Townsend, argued that the study demonstrated a "stark reminder that the rising cost of living is having a debilitating impact on young people’s wellbeing and aspirations for the future," adding, "Yesterday, we released research which showed that continued economic uncertainty and financial pressures are taking a significant toll on young people’s career ambitions and life goals, with the majority feeling anxious, unconfident and hopeless about their plans for their future."
Read more: Over 1 million UK children receiving food aid
Meanwhile, Barry Fletcher, CEO of Youth Futures Foundation, claimed that 790,000 young people were unemployed and not in an education or training program, comprising a 23% rise over the last two years. "We need to create long-term solutions that support young people, helping them to find good quality jobs and a brighter future," he stated.
