Mental Health Among Adolescents Has Worsened

Only seven percent of young people in Austria and Germany are happy and satisfied. This was the result of a survey of 5,511 people by "YEP - Voice of Youth" on mental health. 20 percent of adolescents and young adults stated that they are even really doing poorly. They say they often have negative feelings and feel uncomfortable. 63 percent of respondents often struggle with problems, are stressed, or sad.

Survey: Only Seven Percent of Young People Happy

The data collection took place from October 2024 to January 2025 among Austrians (38 percent) and Germans (62 percent). The results showed significant differences between the two countries. While eleven percent of Austrian respondents state that they are really doing poorly, this proportion is more than twice as high in Germany at 25 percent. Overall, 72 percent of German adolescents rate their current emotional well-being as negative - in Austria, it is significantly less at 49 percent. These figures showed that young people in Germany are generally more stressed than in Austria.

While 22 percent of female and 15 percent of male respondents state that they often have negative thoughts and feel uncomfortable, this proportion is significantly higher among diverse youth at 40 percent. Additionally, it is shown that only two percent of diverse respondents reported feeling truly happy and satisfied - the lowest value of all groups. In contrast, this proportion is highest among male respondents at eleven percent, while only three percent of female adolescents report consistently positive well-being. These figures illustrate that particularly adolescents who identify as female or diverse feel emotionally burdened, while male respondents generally have a more positive self-assessment of their well-being.

Majority of Adolescents Often Feel Powerless

The feeling of being able to make a difference or change something is missed by the vast majority of adolescents: 87 percent stated that they feel powerless at least sometimes - more than half (51 percent) even frequently. In Germany, even 92 percent of adolescents report regular feelings of powerlessness, while in Austria it is 80 percent, still a very large majority. The feeling of belonging plays a central role in the well-being of young people. 81 percent of respondents state that the feeling of belonging is of great importance for their mental well-being. A gender comparison shows that the need for belonging is particularly pronounced among female adolescents: 84 percent of female respondents emphasized the importance of this feeling for their mental well-being, while 78 percent of male adolescents make this statement.

Performance Pressure as Central Stress Factor

In the qualitative data collection, it is shown that academic performance pressure in Germany and Austria is perceived as a central stress factor for the mental health of adolescents. Exams, homework, and tight schedules dominate everyday life and significantly burden their mental state. Another important point is the desire for more understanding and better communication from teachers, parents, and other adult reference persons. The adolescents reported that they are rarely taken seriously. In addition to academic burdens, they also mentioned family conflicts, societal expectations, and the influence of social media as significant stress factors. Furthermore, the adolescents cited developments such as climate change, political instability, and economic uncertainties as major stress factors.

Although a broad majority (76 percent) of respondents stated that they feel well-informed about the topic of mental health - this usually happens through social media. Nevertheless, the proportion of adolescents who feel differently is not negligible: one in four young people feels not sufficiently informed. Therefore, there is a very strong desire to learn even more about the topic. 82 percent of respondents stated that they would like to know more about it.

(APA/Red)

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