Despite the economic crisis, the majority of teenagers are in good spirits and are happy with their lives. As evidenced by the responses of some 800 adolescents aged 15 to 18 consulted for this survey * Ipsos for Pfizer. 71% of teens say they feel good at school and 69% say they are “satisfied with what is happening to them”. Only one in four teenagers feels bad about himself.
Adolescents are going through this pivotal period of the puberty by being surrounded by their friends, “a lot of friends” even for the most part. However, some do recognize certain relationship difficulties since a little less than one in three teenagers say they have difficulty reaching out to others.
If they are not isolated, they still confess a little stressed out : “47% say they often feel under pressure”.
For Professor Philippe Jeammet, President of the Pfizer Foundation for Child and Adolescent Health, these results show “progress in the well-being” of adolescents, who are optimistic despite the current context. “In a serene context, pessimism is a form of antidepressant that prevents disappointments. However, paradoxically, when the socio-economic situation becomes difficult, it can provoke a combative reaction, in a desire not to suffer.”
And what do parents think? Oddly, parents don’t have the same idea of adolescent well-being. For good reason, 65% of seniors believe that young people are often under pressure (against 47% of young people). And adults see teens more complexed than they are: 62% think that teens often feel bad about themselves (compared to 1 in 4 teens).
* Survey conducted from October 23 to November 13, 2012, 800 adolescents aged 15 to 18 and 800 adults (aged 25 and over).
