Life satisfaction among adolescents in Leipzig declined between 2015 and 2023. The decline was particularly pronounced among girls. This is shown by a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Leipzig, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and Leuphana University Lüneburg. The gap in life satisfaction between girls and boys has widened significantly.
For the study, the research team analyzed data from the Leipzig Youth Study. As part of this study, a total of approximately 4,800 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 were surveyed about their living conditions in 2010, 2015, and 2023.
Many factors play a role
According to the researchers, there is no single cause for why these differences have widened. This trend was particularly evident among adolescents with a migrant background. However, the composition of this group in Leipzig has changed significantly in recent years.
While many respondents in 2010 had a Vietnamese family background, in 2023 young people with a refugee background or a Muslim background were more frequently represented. Some of the differences could therefore also be attributed to changes in the population structure.
In addition, the 2023 survey was conducted on tablets for the first time, rather than on paper. The researchers believe it is possible that the greater anonymity led girls in particular to report their actual levels of satisfaction more openly.
Furthermore, there were indications that the differences in satisfaction with leisure activities and friendships have widened. The researchers suspect that the COVID-19 pandemic may have placed a greater strain on girls in these areas than on boys.
