How many adolescents are truly satisfied with their lives?
Quite a few, if we believe the new youth survey from Norway.
Published
How are children and adolescents really doing in Norway?
Norwegian researchers have been exploring this question for many years. Since 2010, they have conducted the Ungdata survey, in which youth from all over Norway answer questions about their lives.
The goal is to understand what it’s like to be young in Norway today.
Researchers have now reviewed the responses they have received, and the results are clear:
Most young people in Norway believe they have a good life.
Experience joy and energy
In the past two years, 150,000 students from lower secondary schools and upper secondary schools have participated in the survey.
Nine out of ten believe that their life is good, and nearly eight out of ten feel they have everything they want in life.
“According to the youth themselves, things are looking pretty good,” says Anders Bakken.
He is the head of Ungdata at OsloMet, and wrote the newest report.
“The vast majority report a daily life filled with joy and energy. Many experience a sense of accomplishment, optimism for the future, and a feeling of being useful,” he says.
Bakken mentions that the survey includes many questions about how satisfied adolescents are with their lives.
“The overall picture shows that a large majority report having a good life,” he says.
Less loneliness and strong relationships with parents
According to the survey, two out of three are satisfied with their health, and most report few or no mental health problems.
“Most young people also report being satisfied with their immediate surroundings,” says Bakken.
This includes their relationship with their parents – a full 86 per cent say they are happy with their parents.
Many also have close friendships. Almost 90 per cent of adolescents say they have a good friend they can trust and talk to about anything.
“Friends of the same age are crucial for most adolescents. They provide a source of play, joy, support, belonging, and affirmation,” says Bakken.
Optimism about the future
The survey reveals that many young people are optimistic about the future. A significant 68 per cent believe they will lead a good and happy life.
“This suggests that we still have a fairly optimistic generation of adolescents. Considering the climate crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the ongoing war in Europe, this optimism might come as a bit of a surprise,” says Bakken.
However, there are some who are not particularly optimistic. What are these young people worried about?
The researchers don't quite know.
They did not ask specific questions about concerns for the future, except for one. It concerns employment. Around 17 per cent of adolescents believe they will face unemployment at some point in their lives.
“In recent years, we’ve seen a slight increase in the number of young people who think they might become unemployed,” Bakken notes.
More bullying at school
While the report shows that most Norwegian teenagers feel they have a good life, not everyone shares this experience.
What about those who struggle?
Even though many young people generally report feeling good, it does not mean they always feel this way or that everything is fine all the time.
Anders Bakken notes that bullying in schools has increased in recent years. He stresses that this is a serious concern.
“Despite national campaigns and school initiatives, the level of bullying doesn’t appear to be decreasing,” he says.
Decline in school satisfaction
Regarding school satisfaction, the numbers have slightly dropped from previous years.
“Most students view school as a place of enjoyment and inclusion. Relationships with teachers are generally positive, and most students feel included in the school community,” he says.
However, the survey also indicates that many students are bored, and over half report feeling stressed by schoolwork.
“Nearly one in five students openly express dissatisfaction with the school they attend,” says Bakken.
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Translated by Alette Bjordal Gjellesvik
Read the Norwegian version of this article on ung.forskning.no
Reference:
Bakken, A. Ungdata 2024 – Nasjonale resultater (Youth data 2024 – National results), NOVA Report 6/24, OsloMet, 2024.
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