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Today's students more anxious about life

Pastoral issues PSHE Pupil wellbeing Mental health
Today’s young people are plagued with worries about their job prospects, self-confidence and the current political and economic climate, new research has found.

More than half of those polled for a survey for The Prince’s Trust said that recent political events made them anxious for their future. More than four out of 10 said they felt more anxious about life than a year ago while 44 per cent claimed they didn’t know what to believe about the economy because they read conflicting things in the media.

Half of those questioned felt that the pressures of getting a job were greater than a year ago and more than a third said they did not feel in control of their job prospects. Thirty seven per cent of those who felt out of control were worried that their living costs were rising faster than their earnings.

The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index is a national survey that gauges young people’s wellbeing across a range of areas, from family life to physical health, and measures their levels of happiness and confidence. This year’s survey, which quizzed more than 2,200 young people aged 16 to 25 across the UK, showed that their wellbeing is at its lowest level since the index was first commissioned in 2009.

The research also revealed that many young people feel trapped by their circumstances. One in 10 (12 per cent) claimed they did not know anyone who “really cares” about them, 45 per cent felt stressed about their body image and 37 per cent were anxious about coping at school or work.

Commenting on the findings, Dame Martina Milburn, chief executive of The Prince’s Trust, said: “This report paints a deeply concerning picture of a generation who feel their ability to shape their future is slipping away from them.

“It’s shocking how many feel so desperate about their situation and it is vital that we support them to develop the confidence and coping skills they need to develop in life. The single most important thing we can do to empower these young people is to help them into a job, an education course or onto a training programme.”