Trends in child subjective well-being in the UK

Author: Jonathan Bradshaw and Antonia Keung

Institution: University of York

Full reference: Bradshaw, J. and Keung, A. ‘Trends in child subjective well-being in the UK’ Journal of Children’s Services 6(1): 4-17

Summary of key findings

This article uses British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) data to explore trends in the subjective well-being of young people aged 11–15 during the period 1994-2008.

In the Panel Survey multi-dimensional scales representing ‘happiness’ and ‘self-esteem’ were used to measure two dimensions of subjective well being.

During this 14 year period the report identifies and reviews a number of changes in the environment of young people that may have had an impact on their well-being, including:

• Economic growth;
• Increases in parental employment;
• Major efforts to improve social policy for children.

The question is then posed as to whether all this activity had an impact on what young people say about their lives?

The evidence from this analysis suggests that there has been an improvement in the average level of happiness of 11–15 year-olds over time – especially for girls.

A closing of the gender gap over the years is also observed in the survey data.

Though it may be impossible to draw clear conclusions about the exact causes of this observed improvement in happiness, the report finds some evidence to indicate that it focused on both relationships with friends and happiness with school.

It is argued that a longer series of data analysis is needed, because most of the differences observed occur at either end of the study period.

Research Questions & Methodology

Review of data from British Household Panel Survey data to analyze changes over the time during a 14 year period from 1994 – 2008.

Go to the journal article.