New research shows that British teenagers think that their generation will have a more negative life compared to their parents.

1,001 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 were surveyed by YouGov on behalf of the children’s charity Barnardo’s, and revealed their concerns about money, employment, and the climate crisis.

When asked to imagine their lives at the age of 30 years, 55% of teenagers said they believed their lives would be worse than the previous generation, while another 34% thought the next generation of children’s lives would not be any better.

According to the survey, 9% of the respondents expressed feeling “hopeless” about their prospects.

According to Lynn Perry, the CEO of Barnardo’s, the fact that children anticipate facing more challenges than their parents is indicative of a breakdown in the social agreement, putting the future of the next generation at stake.

She emphasized that our responsibility is to improve the world for our children, rather than make it worse.

A teenage individual expresses, “Presently, many people are facing difficulties. Despite possessing a master’s degree and working as a nurse, my mother struggles to meet financial obligations. Personally, I am not as intelligent as her, so I anticipate that my life will be more challenging. Our family used to take vacations, but unfortunately, due to financial constraints, it is no longer feasible for my mother to afford them.”

A different individual stated, “At 21, my parents were able to obtain a mortgage. I doubt people of my generation will have the same opportunity.”

Financial concerns were a source of anxiety for 19% of respondents, who expressed doubts about being able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle by the time they reached the age of 30. Out of the adolescents surveyed, 10% felt powerless to alter their future circumstances.

Barnardo’s latest report, Changing Childhoods, Changing Lives, sheds light on the harsh realities of children’s lives in the UK. The report examines the effects of various factors, such as the rising cost of living, the ongoing Covid pandemic, and environmental worries.

According to Perry, children are regularly exposed to news about the difficulties they encounter, such as growing inequality, environmental issues, health concerns, and an unstable housing market. These problems are not caused by them, but it is unjust that they are forced to fear the future instead of being optimistic about it. This is particularly evident for children from underprivileged backgrounds.

The organization predicts that the future may bring challenges, including a rise in children’s mental health issues, a greater risk of online exploitation, and an increase in the number of young people in foster care.

Source: theguardian.com