Around a third of girls aged 10-15 unhappy with their looks

New data from Understanding Society informed the latest release from the Office of National Statistics monitoring wellbeing in children and young people.

The report Measuring National Well-being – Exploring the Well-being of Children in the UK, 2014 forms part of the government’s monitoring of national wellbeng.

Key Points

  • Around three-quarters of children aged 10 to 15 in Great Britain rated their life satisfaction, the things that they do as worthwhile, and their happiness yesterday as moderate to high in 2013.
  • In 2011–12 in the UK, 8 out of 10 boys (79%) reported being relatively happy with their appearance. Fewer than 7 out of 10 girls (68%) reported the same.
  • Around 6 in 10 UK children aged 11 to 15 (61%) talked to their mother about things that matter more than once a week in 2011-12, compared with half (51%) in 2002. Similarly, 37% talked to their father frequently in 2011-12, compared with 31% in 2002.
  • Around 1 in 8 children (12%) aged 10 to 15 in the UK reported being frequently bullied physically, in other ways, or both in 2011–12.
  • The proportion of children in England aged 2 to 15 who were overweight, including obese, was 28% in 2012. Children aged 11 to 15 years had a higher prevalence of being overweight, including obese (35%) in 2012 compared with those aged 2 to 10 (23%).
  • Nearly all children (98%) aged 10 to 15 in the UK used a computer at home during 2011–12. Girls were more likely to use it to complete their homework, while boys were more likely to play computer games.
  • Around 12% of children aged 10 to 15 in the UK reported being a victim of crime in 2013/14, half of whom were victims of violent crime.
  • The proportion of UK children living in households with less than 60% median income was 17% in 2011/12, down from 26% in 1998/99

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