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.
The Gap Between Girls and Boys Is Widening
Although fewer adolescents overall reported being satisfied with their lives in 2023 than in 2015, On a scale of one to five, average life satisfaction dropped from 3.9 to 3.7 points. However, the trend was not the same for everyone.
“All adolescents are less satisfied in 2023 compared to 2015, but the decline is twice as steep among girls as among boys,” says study director Dr. Julia Rohrer of the University of Leipzig.
While girls reported only slightly lower life satisfaction scores than boys in 2015, the gap had already reached nearly half a point on the scale by 2023. The researchers speak of a growing “gender gap,” that is, an increasing divide between the sexes.
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.
No Easy Answers
Discussions are currently underway in Germany and internationally regarding whether the mental health of girls and young women is deteriorating. Social media is often cited as the cause. However, the Leipzig researchers urge caution.
The data available so far do not allow for clear conclusions. Many international studies are only comparable to a limited extent, and survey methods and diagnostic criteria have changed in different countries.
Nevertheless, the results show that young people’s life satisfaction should be closely monitored – especially among girls. According to the researchers, why gender differences are widening is an important question for future studies.
Original publication:
Rohrer, J.M., McElreath, R. & Kachel, G. Why Did the Gender Gap in Adolescent Life Satisfaction Grow? Evaluating Methodological and Demographic Explanations. J Happiness Stud 27, 85 (2026).
