A major new study of more than 115,000 young people suggests teenage wellbeing may finally be recovering after years of concern over the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Researchers from the #BeeWell programme based at The University of Manchester found steady improvements in psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction and loneliness among secondary school pupils across Greater Manchester and Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton between 2021 and 2025.
The findings point to what the researchers describe as a ‘modest but sustained improvement’ in young people’s emotional wellbeing and social connection.
Key findings
• The proportion of young people reporting good psychological wellbeing rose from 51% in 2021 to 57% in 2025
• Average life satisfaction increased from 6.32 to 6.73 out of 10
• The proportion reporting elevated emotional difficulties fell from 17% to 14%
• Reports of feeling lonely always or often fell from 12% to 9%
• The amount of pupils reporting a strong sense of school belonging rose from 46% to 53%