Pandemic and online pressures drive decline in girls' happiness

The uniformed youth charity’s latest Girls’ Attitudes Survey reveals the proportion of girls who describe themselves as being “happy most of the time” fell to 63 per cent in 2021, down from 81 per cent in 2018.

• Related news: Girls reluctant to become leaders due to negative media coverage

• Opinion: Make improving children's wellbeing explicit aim of all work

The proportion of girls aged seven to 21 reporting as feeling “unhappy most of the time” almost doubled in the past three years from 17 to 32 per cent. The number of girls aged seven to 10 reporting as feeling happy most of the time also fell from 43 to 25 per cent over the same period.

The survey, supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, found a rise in loneliness among girls and young women of all ages, but particularly so for 17- to 21-year-olds (72 per cent) and those identifying as lesbian, gay bisexual and queer (LGBQ) (77 per cent).

Around 70 per cent of the 1,500 survey respondents reported experiencing online harms in the past year, including half of those aged seven to 10. Nine out of 10 women aged 17 to 21 had experienced online harms. The research revealed that disabled girls and those that identify as LGBQ are more likely to experience online harm.

The most common online harms experienced by 11- to 21-year-olds were misinformation (55 per cent), hate speech (52 per cent), sexist comments (50 per cent) and images that made them feel insecure about their appearance (45 per cent), and harassment (28 per cent).

On a positive note, nearly a third of girls across the age range said being online during the pandemic enabled the forging of closer relationships with friends and family they weren’t in touch with.

Girlguiding chief executive Angela Salt said: “The pandemic has had a significant impact on all aspects of girls’ and young women’s lives, both exacerbating existing pressures and adding new worries.

“Now more than ever Girlguiding has an invaluable role to play in continuing to support girls’ wellbeing, and we’re proud to be able to offer a space where girls can be themselves, have fun and do the things they’ve missed out on this year – all whilst developing essential skills for their future, helping to build resilience and confidence to navigate this difficult time and the relentless pressures they face.”   

Girlguiding is calling on the government to reverse the trend in decline in happiness among girls through better support for their wellbeing, education and wider opportunities. As part of this, the charity is calling for all online harms legislation to include the widespread and damaging harms girls face online, including pressures around their appearance.

Earlier in the year, Girlguiding research showed the negative impact that pandemic lockdowns were having on girls and young women.