WHO Report: Rising School Pressure and Declining Family Support for Youth, Especially Girls

A new report from the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe (WHO EuroHSC) and the "Health Behaviour in School-aged Children" (HBSC) study highlights a concerning decrease in the support adolescents receive from their immediate environment across Europe, Central Asia, and Canada. The 2021/2022 HBSC survey, involving nearly 280,000 adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 from 44 countries, found that only 68% reported high levels of family support, a significant drop from the previous survey in 2018.

Concurrently, school workload has reportedly increased. Teenage girls, in particular, are experiencing greater pressure, with 63% of 15-year-old girls reporting excessive schoolwork compared to 54% in 2018. For boys, the increase was less pronounced (43% versus 40%).

The report also underscores social inequalities, as adolescents from less affluent families consistently report lower levels of support than their more privileged peers. Significant gender differences were also noted in communication with parents, although girls reported stronger peer support than boys.

These trends are raising concerns about the mental health and well-being of millions of adolescents. The report's authors call for coordinated actions at national, regional, and local levels to create a more supportive environment and strengthen the systems adolescents rely on, while also addressing the social determinants of health.