British teens the least satisfied in Europe

TEENAGERS in the UK have the least life satisfaction when compared with their European peers, a study had found.

Researchers found a strong link between youngsters’ views on failure and life satisfaction in a report by the Children’s Society.

The charity’s annual Good Childhood Report found more than one in three UK 15-year-olds scored low on life satisfaction compared with only one in seven in Romania.

A British teen said: “There is a lot of pressure on young people to succeed at things in life. But what I would like young people to know is that if you don’t succeed the first time, you are learning, and by learning, you are succeeding.”

The UK’s teenagers were also ranked last out of the other European countries for children’s overall sense of purpose as more than two in five said they felt their life lacked clear meaning or purpose.

Mark Russell, chief executive at the charity, said: “Modern life has been chipping away at our children’s happiness during the last decade.We need action and for the Government to provide long-term investment to stop this toxic trend.”

An NSPCC spokesman said: “The findings of this report are troubling, and echo what we have been hearing from young people for years through Childline.”