More than half of unemployed young people feel anxious about everyday life situations with many claiming to avoid meeting new people, according to a report on wellbeing among youths.



Nearly six out of 10 unemployed young people polled said anxiety had stopped them from sleeping well, over half said feeling anxious stopped them from asking for help while 41% said it stopped them from leaving the house, according to a survey of 2,265 16 to 25-year-olds published in a new report by youth charity the Prince’s Trust.



Martina Milburn, the chief executive of the Prince’s Trust, said: “Thousands of young people feel like prisoners in their own homes.



“Without the right support, these young people become socially isolated - struggling with day-to-day life and slipping further and further from the jobs market.”



While 20% of young people polled agreed to the statement that they were “falling apart” emotionally on a regular basis, the figure increases to 33% among unemployed young people.

Other findings in this year’s Youth Index shows that of those polled, 46% of unemployed young people said that they avoid meeting new people, while 39% said that they find it difficult to make eye contact with other people.



Kirsty Drew, 21, a sales assistant from Birmingham, told interviewers: “When I left school I just didn’t believe in myself. If I went to a job interview I wouldn’t be able to make eye contact with the interviewer and I would just think that there is no way I am going to get the job.” She added: “Every time I thought I was getting somewhere, I would face another barrier.”



In a new question on bullying in school, over 60% of young people said that they have been bullied at school. Of these, 23% had been physically bullied and 13% claimed to be victims of cyberbullying. 10% said that they faced a sustained period of bullying for more than five years.

In the seventh year of the the Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index report, young people were asked how happy or unhappy they were about different aspects of their life such as work, relationships, money and their physical and emotional health.

Jamie Davies, 19, who was first bullied in primary school, said: “I was searching for work on a daily basis and sending out my CV but I never heard anything. I was willing to take any job, but no one would give me a chance.”



The Prince’s Trust Youth Index figures for the past seven years for both happiness and confidence. Photograph: The Prince's Trust

During the research, 16 to 25-year-olds were asked how confident they felt about their future in these different areas and the results were combined by polling company YouGov to work out the total index score of 71 out of 100.

However, the overall index score for young people not in education, employment or training (Neets) dropped this year to an index score of 59, while it was 61 last year.