Girls perform worse than boys

Copenhagen, 10 October 2023

Mental health and well-being are consistently worse among adolescent girls than among boys of the same age, according to a new report from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, released today on World Mental Health Day.

This gap widens with age, with outcomes being most unfavorable among 15-year-old girls.

The report, entitled ‘Mental health and emotional well-being of adolescents in Europe and Central Asia’, is based on data from the Health Behaviour of School-aged Children (HBSC) study 2021/2022, which examines the health behaviours and social environments of almost 280 000 boys and girls aged 11, 13 and 15 from 44 countries in Europe and Central Asia.

Girls performed worse than boys in terms of life satisfaction, mental well-being and assessment of their own health, and also reported loneliness more often. About a quarter of 15-year-old girls said they had felt lonely most or all of the time in the past year, compared to about a seventh of boys.

A consistent pattern

Although the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to contain it may have played a role, they are not the only explanation. Rather, the life satisfaction of young people, especially girls, and the assessment of their own health have shown a negative trend since 2018, i.e. even before the pandemic, while many health complaints – such as sleep disorders, back pain, headaches or depression – have been increasing since 2014.

“I think a lot of girls put themselves down because they ask themselves: ‘Am I good enough? Am I strong enough? Can I do something?’ said a girl from a secondary school in Scotland when asked about the results. “They put themselves down and blame themselves for all sorts of things. They don’t accept themselves as they are.”

“The challenges facing young people today are diverse and stressful, ranging from the climate crisis to academic pressures and societal expectations to the ever-present influence of social media,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure they have the support and resources they need to address these challenges. Just last month, the WHO Regional Office for Europe launched the Youth4Health network, giving young people a seat at the table in decisions that affect their health and well-being. On this World Mental Health Day, we stand together to underline the essential importance of adolescent mental health.”

The survey also found that a third of young people felt nervous or irritable more than once a week in the past six months. Around a quarter reported sleeping problems (29%) or feeling depressed (25%). A fifth (20%) reported headaches more than once a week.

The report also reinforces long-standing evidence that socioeconomic status is an indicator of mental health, with overall health being poorer among adolescents from less affluent families.

Early interventions with a focus on schools

These findings highlight the importance of early intervention. While not all adolescents who complain of poor mental health require medical treatment, such as from a psychiatrist, they often do if these problems are not addressed promptly.

Schools are highlighted as a particularly important place in this context, as in most countries they are the first point of contact for young people with mental health problems. Putting schools at the centre of some mental health promotion and prevention programmes will provide the greatest return on investment in improving the mental health of children and young people.

Schools may refer students who require more specialized support to other community-based services, such as hospitals and community mental health centers.

A foundation for a holistic approach to health and wellbeing

Monitoring the mental health of children and young people, for example through the HBSC studies, can help determine the impact of national or regional interventions to improve mental health and well-being.

“With its long-term trends, the HBSC study allows us to observe the impact of overall societal change and individual lifestyle habits on health outcomes in adolescents,” said Jo Inchley, international coordinator of the HBSC study. “It is important that we hear from young people themselves about the issues that are important to them and the factors that influence their health and wellbeing. While there are many challenges to overcome, the data also show the importance of creating a caring and supportive environment in which young people can thrive.”

“The results of this study are sobering. Young people are telling us they are not well and it is up to us, as adults, as decision-makers, to listen and act,” concluded Dr Kluge. “Our survey highlights the urgent need for more tailored mental health interventions for girls and women: in our schools, at home and in society at large. And while boys may not report mental health problems to the same extent, they still need to be made aware of signs of stress, anxiety or loneliness in themselves and others. Together we can ensure that mental health really does matter everywhere in our region.”

——————————————

Countries and regions involved: