Exams and social media blamed for finding that only 25% of respondents describe themselves as very happy

There has been a sharp decline in happiness among girls and young women in the UK in the last decade, with the majority of them blaming exams and social media for causing stress, a major survey has found.

Just one in four (25%) girls and young women between the ages of seven and 21 described themselves as “very happy” in the latest girls’ attitudes survey for the Girlguiding organisation – down from 41% in 2009.

The oldest were the least happy – more than a quarter (27%) of young women aged 17 to 21 said they did not feel happy, up from 11% in 2009. Their unhappiness in turn affected their confidence (61%), health (50%), relationships (49%) and studies (39%).

While seven out of 10 girls (69%) identified school exams as the key cause of stress, pressure from social media was blamed by six out 10 girls (59%), and increasing numbers said they had experienced unkind, threatening and negative behaviour online compared with five years ago. The research polled 1,900 girls and women aged between the ages of seven and 21, and included Guides and non-members of the group.

The report raised concerns that girls today are socialising less in person and spending more time online. “Relationships are an essential element of contentment and it may be no coincidence that 10 years ago, girls of all ages were socialising more and comparing their lives online less,” it said.

“The percentage of girls and young women feeling unsafe outside is alarmingly high,” the report continued. “More than half of those aged 13 to 21 have felt unsafe walking home alone, experienced harassment or know someone who has, and nearly half feel unsafe using public transport.”

Older Guides who have risen through the ranks of the organisation expressed shock at the deep levels of unhappiness revealed in the 2018 survey. “It’s really sad,” said Victoria Kinkaid, a 23-year-old medical student who has been a Guide for 18 years.

She pointed to more encouraging findings too. Young girls were more likely to consider themselves a feminist – up from just over a third (35%) in 2013 to just under half (47%) this year. “That’s a lovely thing to hear,” said Kinkaid. “When I was 16, being a feminist had a lot of negative connotations attached to it. Today from what I can see on social media, it’s more of a trendy word and less of a taboo.”

Girls in 2018 were more likely to have friends who have experienced mental health problems, but they’re also talking more about it than in previous years. More than seven out of 10 (71%) knew of at least one girl with mental health issues – up from 62% in 2015 – but it is increasingly being discussed in schools, up from 44% in 2015 to 50% this year.

More participants in this year’s survey said they felt able to speak up about issues that matter to them – 36% of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 say they have spoken up to make their views known about an issue they care about, up from 28% in 2011. But of those who have spoken out, only 60% felt their voice had been heard.

The survey revealed a sharp increase in girls’ interest in science, technology and maths, with 41% of those aged between seven and 10 enjoying such subjects compared with 26% in 2016. There has also been an increase in girls wanting to become leaders in their chosen job – 53% up from 42%.

In other ways, however, girls’ lives appear to have contracted as their world moves online. In 2009 69% of girls met friends at each others’ houses, compared with 21% in 2018.

The chief Guide, Amanda Medler, said: “The message could not be clearer from girls and young women about the seriousness of the issues they’re facing daily and the negative impact on their lives.

“Girls need to know when they speak out they will be heard. So now is the time for action, to listen to girls and respond, and for all organisations, government, schools and parents to work together to improve the lives of all girls and young women.”

Conservative MP Maria Miller, who is chair of the Commons women and equalities committee, said: “#MeToo may have left its mark in Hollywood but for women and girls around the country their ambitions to succeed are still too often met with sexism.

“It’s important more women and girls are now speaking out about how this behaviour undermines their confidence and mental health; but this harmful, negative behaviour has to be stopped.”