Childhood far from the best days, study shows

London: A landmark survey has found that one in ten children is unhappy, and most blame fighting within their family.

Recent family break-up is a key factor in making them miserable, the report by The Children's Society said. Those living with natural parents are happier than those who share a home with step-parents or single parents, it added.

Unprecedented

Nearly 7,000 pupils aged between 10 and 15 took part in the survey, the first large-scale attempt in Britain to measure the well-being of children.

Most grade themselves as happy, but up to ten per cent are "significantly" below the average score of 7.7 out of ten, it found.

Translated nationwide, that means 140,000 children of the 1.8 million in the three year groups surveyed have low "well-being" scores, the report concluded.

Insecurities

Children's Society chief executive Bob Reitemeier said: ‘This is a major step forward in our efforts to understand and enhance the well-being of young people.

"It shows the vast majority are happy, but it is a major concern that two children in every classroom are unhappy, and that so many are insecure about their appearance and confidence."