Unhealthy children more likely to be unhappy, study finds
Pui-Guan Man
Friday, March 2, 2012
Children and young people who choose unhealthy activities have dramatically lower happiness levels than those with healthier lifestyles, according to the Economic and Social Research Council.
The Understanding Society study of 40,000 households in the UK found that regardless of gender, age, family income and parent’s education, unhealthy lifestyles including alcohol consumption and smoking impacted upon happiness.
A survey of 5,000 young people aged 10 to 15 revealed that those who consumed alcohol were four to six times more likely to be unhappy than those who had not. Those who did not smoke were five times more likely to be happy. More hours of sport a week also increased likelihood of happiness.
Dr Cara Booker, co-author of the report, said: "What this research shows us is that young people across the social spectrum are failing to eat healthy balanced diets and are starting to consume alcohol at a young age. This is storing up problems for later life because we know that there are clear long-term links between health-related behaviours and wellbeing in adulthood.
"Helping young people reduce damaging health choices as they start making independent decisions is important in order to reduce the number of adults at risk from chronic disease because of their low wellbeing and poor health-related behaviours."
The research shows that 12 to 13 is the age when young people stop healthy habits. Figures for alcohol consumption within the past month compared 41 per cent of 13- to 15-year-olds with eight per cent of 10- to 12-year-olds. Similarly, 11 per cent of the older age group said they smoked, compared with two per cent of the younger group.
Consumption of fruit and vegetables are shown to be low in both age groups. But the more control young people had over their lifestyle choices, the more their food and drink consumption became noticeably unhealthier. Out of 10- to 12-year olds questioned, 17 per cent reported consuming at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, which was five per cent more than those aged 13 to 15.
A measure of happiness was taken from questions about family, friends, school, schoolwork, appearance and life as a whole.
