European teenagers feel less supported and under increased academic pressure

The share of adolescents feeling supported by their family has plummeted from 73 to 67% in four years, an even more marked drop among girls, of whom only 64% feel support compared to 72% previously.

Young people are also more likely to feel under pressure because of school work.

In 2022, almost two thirds of 15-year-old girls (63%) report feeling under pressure (54% in 2018) compared to 43% of boys (40% in 2018), reports the WHO Europe office.

“Today’s adolescents face unprecedented challenges in their social environment, (…) which can have long-term consequences on their health and future prospects“, said regional director Hans Kluge, quoted in the WHO press release.

Young people who benefit from significant support, and who most often live in advantaged environments, have better mental health than those who have limited or no support, notes the health organization.

The abandonment felt is not only familial, notes the report.

Adolescents feel less support from their peers (-3 points from 61% to 58%), the decline being more pronounced among girls (67% to 62%).

“Girls are often caught between the conflicting expectations of academic excellence and traditional social roles, while boys may be under pressure to appear strong and independent, discouraging them from seeking the support they need“, noted one of the authors of the report, Irene García-Moya quoted in the press release.

To help adolescents feel better, it is important to intervene taking into account the specificities of each gender, she added.

We also need to create inclusive school environments by reducing class sizes, implementing mentoring programs and integrating social-emotional learning into curricula, the report recommends.

The study presented by the WHO covers nearly 280,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15 across 44 countries in Europe and Central Asia as well as in Canada.