14 July 2008
New Girlguiding UK and Mental Health Foundation research shows pressures of premature sexualization, materialism and boredom are taking a toll on the mental health and emotional wellbeing of girls and young women.
The report, A Generation Under Stress has been published today in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation.
The research was run among girls in guiding between ten and fourteen, through focus groups conducted by Opinion Leader and an online quantitative survey.
Girls of all ages explained that pressure to grow up before they felt ready was among the greatest influences on their mental wellbeing. Feeling compelled to wear clothes that make them look older, sexual advances from boys, and magazines and websites directly targeting young girls with messages they should lose weight, wear make-up and even consider plastic surgery were identified as particularly damaging. Two-fifths admitted to feeling worse about themselves after looking at pictures of models, popstars or actresses.
One participant explained: “When I was eleven I read a teenage magazine for the first time and that is when it kind of clicked, ‘I should be like this.’”
Another said of a young girl shown in the research material: “You can see that the way she is dressing she thinks she’s older than what she is. She’s destroying who she is.”
Many girls had direct experience of friends and people they know suffering mental health problems. Two-fifths know someone who has self-harmed, a third have a friend who has suffered from an eating disorder and almost two in five know someone who has experienced panic attacks. Indeed many girls felt strongly that self-harm was within the spectrum of typical teenage behaviour – provided it only occurred infrequently – and was not necessarily symptomatic of a mental health problem.
As one girl explained: “I think cutting your arm the first time you do it is ok – it might just be stress. When it happens more than two times I think you’re starting to get … mental health issues.”
Another linked self-harm with being part of a particular social group: “One of my best mates, she was an emo, and me and Charlie stopped her because she kept cutting her wrist . . . She was doing it to fit in with the emos.”
Increased pressure to have money for the latest gadgets and clothes and was also identified as putting girls under particular pressure. Polling showed that such commercialism had caused over one-in-five girls to feel anger and sadness and a quarter to feel worried or bad about themselves. Girls felt that this growing check-list of “ideals” for young girls was giving bullies ever-more excuses to single them out – leading to stress, unhappiness and anxiety.
Girls also felt that negative feelings and behaviour that can get you into trouble – particularly aggression, anti-social behaviour and self-harm – were often prompted by boredom and having nothing to do. As one girl admitted: “If I get bored then I start becoming really aggressive.”
Other key influences on girls’ mental health emerged as bullying, family troubles, exam stress and anxiety about not living up to expectations. Three-quarters reported anxiety about testing and school work.
Facing these different pressures, many girls described struggling to manage a complex spectrum of feelings. A sixth of those surveyed often feel angry while half admit they find anger hard to manage. Around a quarter often worry (28%) and feel like no-one understands them (25%) while around half find both emotions hard to handle.
As one girl described: “I can get angry at almost anything. Sometimes I can get sad or low and not really know why.”
When asked what might help girls their age cope with difficult emotions, girls felt that stable and supportive families and friendship groups were vital to becoming resilient to mental health problems. Having someone to talk to who would not judge you – whether that be a mother, teacher, or other supportive adult – was seen to be critically important.
The research also emphasised the importance of having a safe non-pressured environment where girls are kind to each other and have the opportunity to try out new things they might be good at.
Chief Guide Liz Burnley said:
“Young girls today face a new generation of pressures that leave too many suffering stress, anxiety and unhappiness. All of us who care about young women have part to play in helping them find a way through these conflicting demands to build the confidence they need to be themselves. That is why Girlguiding UK continues to provide a safe space for girls – where no-one is trying to sell them anything or pressurize them to be someone they are not – and where they can form the friendships that we know are so important to their happiness.”
Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation continued:
“Girls and young women are being forced to grow up at an unnatural pace in a society that we, as adults, have created and it’s damaging their emotional well being. We have a responsibility to put this right – we must tackle head on the difficulties that the younger generation are facing.”
A Generation Under Stress? is the third report in Girlguiding UK’s new Girls shout out! research series.
For further information, interviews, hard copies of the report, or more details on the recommendations from the youth panel please contact:
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Champollion on 0207 149 3703/4 and 07766 017 985
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Girlguiding UK Press Office on 0207 592 1733
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Mental Health Foundation press office on 020 7803 1130/28/26.
Notes to Editors
About the research
To help Girlguiding UK explore the many complicated and sensitive issues surrounding mental health and emotional well-being, qualitative date was collated through in-depth focus groups under the guidance of the Mental Health Foundation and leading researchers Opinion Leader.
All the girls who took part were between the ages of ten and fourteen – in other words members of the Guides section. Focus groups were divided by age so that girls could have age-appropriate discussions with their peers.
Eight group discussions were held in three different areas of the country, in order to ensure the views collected reflect a diversity of regions. Focus groups were held in North Harrow, Rochdale and Lichfield between 19th April and 12th May 2008.
Polling
Over the same period Girlguiding UK hosted an online survey on its website asking girls a series of questions about emotional well being. Over 350 girls between ten and fifteen took part. The findings of the polling are included in box-out sections of the report.
About Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK is the UK’s largest voluntary youth organisation, with around 580,000 members. The organisation, which runs Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section, is part of a worldwide Movement that enables girls and young women, whatever their background or ability, to realise their full potential and take an active and responsible role in today’s society. This is achieved through a distinctive, stimulating and enjoyable programme of activities provided by 60,000 trained adult volunteer Leaders.
Girlguiding UK is committed to developing skills and self confidence of girls and women. Adult Leaders receive excellent training and gain transferable skills they can use in the workplace due to the wide range of roles and opportunities available in guiding. Girlguiding UK seeks to work in partnership with other individuals and organisations who share our Vision. Registered Charity No: 306016
About the Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation uses research and practical projects to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems. We work to influence policy, including government at the highest levels. And we use our knowledge to raise awareness and to help tackle the stigma attached to mental illness. We reach millions of people every year through our media work, information booklets and online services.
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