Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023 - wave 4 follow up to the 2017 survey

This section of the report presents findings on the household and wider circumstances of children and young people, their feelings about their financial situation, experiences on social media, bullying in-person and online, feelings about the future and feelings about climate change. 

Breakdowns by sex and mental health and comparisons with previous years are presented in the Excel data tables where available. This report focuses on differences that are statistically significant.
 

The parents of children aged 8 to 16 years were asked about their household’s circumstances over the past year. The questions asked about negative changes, such as a reduction in household income in the past year, as well as about adverse events, such as not being able to buy enough food or having to use a food bank.

Young people aged 17 to 25 years were asked a similar, but not identical, set of questions about circumstances in their own household in the past year. The questions for young people also included some neutral or positive changes and life events which this age group might experience, such as having a baby or moving in with a partner. 

These questions were also asked in 2022, about household circumstances over the past year. The questions were also included in previous waves, but this report only presents results for 2022 and 2023, as previous waves covered shorter time periods and findings are therefore not comparable.

Comparisons over time are presented for children aged 8 to 16 years and young people aged 17 to 24 years (to allow for comparisons with 2022, when 25 year olds were not included). 

In 2023, 1 in 3 (33.9%) children aged 8 to 16 years lived in a household that had experienced at least 1 negative change or circumstance over the past year. 

The most commonly reported circumstance was a reduction in household income, experienced by the families of 1 in 6 children (16.0%). Just over 1 in 10 lived in a household where a parent or close family member had been seriously ill (11.7%), and a similar proportion lived in a household where they could not afford to keep the home warm enough (11.3%). 1 in 10 children lived in a household that had fallen behind with rent, bills or mortgage (10.0%).

Children with a probable mental disorder were more likely than those unlikely to have a disorder to live in a household that had experienced at least 1 negative circumstance (41.7% compared with 29.5%).

Differences included:

• 22.3% of children with a probable mental disorder lived in a household that had experienced a reduction in household income, compared with 12.6% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 19.9% of children with a probable mental disorder lived in a household where they could not afford to keep the home warm enough, compared with 7.6% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 18.7% of children with a probable mental disorder lived in a household that had fallen behind with bills, rent or mortgage, compared with 6.8% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 15.3% of children with a probable mental disorder lived in a household that could not afford to buy food or had to use a food bank, compared with 3.5% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder

Results were similar for 2022 and 2023, with 1 exception. There was a rise in the proportion of children living in households that could not afford to keep the home warm enough, from 7.6% in 2022 to 11.3% in 2023.

For more information see: Table 4.1a of the Excel data tables.

Figure 4.1 base: 8 to 16 year olds.

The most commonly reported event or circumstance over the past year for young people aged 17 to 24 years was starting a new job or course of study, reported by more than 1 in 3 (38.6%) young people. Other changes reported included moving out a parent or carer’s home (10.8%) and moving in with a partner (6.3%).

In terms of negative changes or circumstances, 13.7% of young people reported having been seriously ill or that someone close to them had been seriously ill. About 1 in 10 (9.1%) young people reported falling behind with bills, rent or mortgage. A similar proportion reported not being able to keep their home warm enough (10.4%) or experiencing a reduction in household income (10.3%).

Young people with a probable mental disorder were more likely than those unlikely to have a mental disorder to report experiencing some of the negative changes or events:

• young people with a probable mental disorder were about 4 times as likely as those unlikely to have a mental disorder to report falling behind with bills, rent or mortgage (20.6% compared with 5.4%)
• young people with a probable mental disorder were about 3 times as likely as those unlikely to have a mental disorder to report not being able to afford to buy food, or having to use a food bank (13.6% compared with 4.2%)
• young people with a probable mental disorder were about twice as likely as those unlikely to have a mental disorder to have experienced either being seriously ill themselves or having someone close to them be seriously ill (19.9% compared with 10.4%)

Results were similar for 2022 and 2023.

For more information see: Table 4.1b of the Excel data tables.

Figure 4.2 base: 17 to 24 year olds.

The parents of children aged 8 to 16 years were asked about their feelings about their current financial situation. The questions asked about the extent to which parents agreed or disagreed with a series of statements with 1 of the statements negatively phrased, asking about being worried about money. The others were positively phrased, asking about topics such as being able to afford to give their child a healthy balanced diet or being able to afford to buy their child the right clothes, shoes or equipment for school or college. Children aged 11 to 16 years were asked questions about their feelings about their family’s financial situation. Young people aged 17 to 25 years were also asked a similar, but not identical, set of questions about their or their household’s current financial situation.

These questions were asked for the first time in 2023, and so no comparisons over time are presented.

In 2023, 44.5% of children aged 8 to 16 years had parents who reported being worried about money. While most children had parents who reported being able to afford a range of essentials and activities for their child, some parents reported not being able to afford these: 

• 14.7% of children had a parent who could not afford for their child to take part in activities outside school or college
• 8.0% of children had a parent who could not afford to buy their child the right clothes, shoes and equipment for school or college
• 6.7% of children had a parent who could not afford to give their child a healthy balanced diet 
• 6.7% of children had a parent who could not afford and did not have access to transport to take their child where they needed to go

Figure 4.3 base: 8 to 16 year olds. 

Children with a probable mental disorder were more likely than children unlikely to have a mental disorder to have a parent report being worried about money (57.2% compared with 39.0%).

Children with a probable mental disorder were also more likely to have parents who disagreed that they could afford essentials and activities for their child:

• 26.8% of children with a probable mental disorder had a parent who could not afford for their child to take part in activities outside of school or college, compared with 10.3% of children unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 17.1% of children with a probable mental disorder had a parent who could not afford to buy their child the right clothes, shoes and equipment for school or college, compared with 4.9% of children unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 13.9% of children with a probable mental disorder had a parent who could not afford and did not have access to transport to take their child where they needed to go, compared with 3.7% of children unlikely to have a mental disorder

While there was no difference by disorder for children whose parents disagreed they could afford to give their child a healthy balanced diet, children with a probable mental disorder were less likely to have a parent who agreed with this (80.4%) than children unlikely to have a mental disorder (90.2%). 

For more information see: Table 4.2a of the Excel data tables.

In terms of feelings about their family’s financial situation, 12.4% of children aged 11 to 16 years agreed with ’My family struggle more than other families to afford the things we need’. While the majority of children agreed that their family could afford the things that they needed, some disagreed:

• 9.3% said their family could not afford to do activities or fun things together as a family
• 6.1% said their family could not afford to keep their home warm enough
• 3.2% said their family could not afford to buy them the right clothes and shoes for school
• 2.2% said their family could not afford enough food for them to eat
• 2.1% said their family could not afford for them to eat a healthy diet, including fruit and vegetables

Figure 4.4 base: 11 to 16 year olds.

In general, children’s feelings about whether their family could afford certain essentials were similar for those with a probable mental disorder and those unlikely to have a mental disorder, with 1 exception. Children with a probable mental disorder were less likely to agree with ’My family can afford to buy me the right clothes and shoes for school’ than children unlikely to have a mental disorder (83.4% compared with 96.3%).

For more information see: Table 4.2b of the Excel data tables.

While the majority of young people agreed that they or their household could afford a range of essentials and activities, some disagreed: 

• 13.7% could not afford to take part in activities such as sports, days out, or socialising with friends
• 11.2% could not afford to eat a healthy, balanced diet
• 7.9% could not afford the right clothes, shoes or equipment for their daily lives
• 5.5% could not afford and did not have access to the transport needed for their daily lives

Figure 4.5 base: 17 to 25 year olds.

Responses were similar for young men and young women, except for worries about money. Young women were more likely than young men to report being worried about money (58.8% compared with 37.9%). 

Young people with a probable mental disorder were more likely than young people unlikely to have a mental disorder to report being worried about money. About 7 in 10 (69.4%) young people with a probable mental disorder were worried about money, compared with 4 in 10 of those unlikely to have a mental disorder (40.2%). 

Young people with a probable mental disorder were less likely to agree with all 4 statements about affording essentials and activities than those unlikely to have a mental disorder. They were also more likely to say that they neither agreed nor disagreed with the statements.

Young people with a probable mental disorder were more likely than those unlikely to have a mental disorder to disagree with 2 of the statements about affording essentials and activities: 

• 26.1% of young people with a probable mental disorder could not afford to take part in activities compared with 8.3% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 15.6% of young people with a probable mental disorder could not afford the right clothes, shoes and equipment for their daily lives, compared with 3.5% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder

For more information see: Table 4.2c of the Excel data tables.

Children aged 11 to 16 years and young people aged 17 to 25 years who reported using social media were asked about their experiences online. Participants were asked whether they agreed a lot, agreed a little, neither agreed nor disagreed, disagreed a little, or disagreed a lot, with 2 statements:

• ‘I have been bullied online’
• ‘I feel safe using social media’ 

These questions did not specify a time period and were only asked in 2022 and 2023. 

Comparisons are presented for children aged 11 to 16 years, and young people aged 17 to 24 years (to allow comparisons with 2022, when 25 year olds were not included). 

Information on the use of social media by children and young people can be found in the Children and parents: media use and attitudes report 2023 . 

In 2023, 1 in 10 (10.0%) children who used social media agreed that they had been bullied online. 6 in 10 (61.3%) children who used social media agreed that they felt safe on social media, while 1 in 10 (9.5%) disagreed.

Children with a probable mental disorder who used social media were more likely to report experiencing online bullying; almost 1 in 5 (19.3%) had been bullied online compared with about 1 in 12 (5.9%) of those unlikely to have a mental disorder. 

In 2023, 1 in 7 (14.3%) 17 to 24 year olds who used social media agreed that they had been bullied online. Young women were more likely to report experiencing online bullying than young men (18.4% compared with 10.1%). About 6 in 10 (58.1%) young people who used social media agreed that they felt safe on social media, while 11.6% disagreed. This was similar for young men and young women. 

Young people with a probable mental disorder who used social media were more likely than those unlikely to have a mental disorder to report experiencing online bullying (26.1% compared with 7.6%), and less likely to agree that they felt safe on social media (42.8% compared with 65.4%). 

For more information see: Table 4.3 of the Excel data tables.

Figure 4.6 base: 11 to 24 year old social media users.

Children aged 11 to 16 years were asked if they had been bullied either in-person or online, in the past 12 months. Participants were asked about online bullying if they said they used social media apps or sites, for example, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc. Participants that said 'no' to using social media have been coded as 'no' for being bullied online.

Young people aged 17 to 25 years were only asked if they had been bullied online in the past 12 months. Young people’s responses to this question are not discussed here but are available in Table 4.4 of the Excel data tables. These questions were only asked in 2023. 
 

Children with a probable mental disorder were much more likely to report any form of bullying in the past year:

• 36.9% of children with a probable mental disorder reported being bullied in-person, compared with 7.6% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 10.8% of children with a probable mental disorder reported being bullied online, compared with 2.6% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 9.1% of children with a probable mental disorder reported being bullied both in-person and online, compared with 1.3% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder

For more information see: Table 4.4 of the Excel data tables.

Figure 4.7 base: 11 to 16 year olds.

Young people aged 17 to 25 years were asked how worried they were about the impact of climate change. This question was asked for the first time in 2023, and so no comparisons are presented.

While 1 in 4 young people (25.0%) reported that they were not worried about the impact of climate change, 1 in 5 (20.2%) said they were neither worried nor not worried.

Young women (19.6%) were less likely than young men (30.2%) to not be worried about the impact of climate change.

For more information see: Table 4.5 of the Excel data tables.

Figure 4.8 base: 17 to 25 year olds.

Young people aged 17 to 25 years were asked how optimistic they felt about several issues and topics, such as their job prospects and having somewhere secure to live. Participants were asked whether they felt very optimistic, quite optimistic, not very optimistic or not at all optimistic, or didn’t know.

Similar questions were asked in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and in the Excel data tables comparisons are presented where the questions were the same over time. Comparisons are presented for young people aged 17 to 23 years (to allow comparisons with 2021 and 2022). 

Young people aged 17 to 23 years were most likely to be optimistic about relationships with family (83.9%) and friends (77.3%). 

About 2 in 3 young people aged 17 to 23 years were optimistic about having somewhere secure to live in future (66.2%) and 1 in 2 (49.8%) reported being optimistic about having enough money in future. 

Just over 1 in 4 reported being optimistic about the environment (27.1%). Of the range of issues enquired about, young people were least likely to be optimistic about Brexit (9.5%).

Figure 4.9 base: 17 to 23 year olds.

Young women were less likely to be optimistic about several topics and issues than young men. These included: 

• 56.1% of young women were optimistic about their family’s health, compared with 70.9% of young men 
• 51.4% of young women were optimistic about their health (including mental health and wellbeing) compared with 67.8% of young men
• 38.5% of young women were optimistic about having enough money, compared with 60.5% of young men
• 33.8% of young women were optimistic about COVID-19, compared with 50.8% of young men
• 18.8% of young women were optimistic about the environment, compared with 34.9% of young men
• 3.4% of young women were optimistic about Brexit, compared with 15.3% of young men

Young people with a probable mental disorder were much less likely to feel optimistic about most topics and issues, compared with those unlikely to have a mental disorder:

• 42.3% of young people with a probable mental disorder felt optimistic about their family’s health, compared with 75.9% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 42.2% of young people with a probable mental disorder felt optimistic about having somewhere secure to live, compared with 76.9% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 30.9% of young people with a probable mental disorder felt optimistic about their job prospects, compared with 70.2% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 24.2% of young people with a probable mental disorder felt optimistic about their health (including mental health and wellbeing), compared with 78.0% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 21.5% of young people with a probable mental disorder felt optimistic about having enough money, compared with 61.1% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder
• 13.4% of young people with a probable mental disorder felt optimistic about the environment, compared with 34.7% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder

There were some changes over time in feelings about the future. The proportion of young people reporting feeling optimistic about their job prospects rose from 43.5% in 2021 to 63.3% in 2022, with similar reports in 2022 and 2023 (58.3%). The proportion of young people feeling optimistic about COVID-19 also rose from 32.9% in 2021 to 41.1% in 2022, and then was similar in 2023 (42.5%).

For more information see: Table 4.6 of the Excel data tables.