The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) recently released a report offering intriguing observations about teenage life in present-day Ireland. This report titled, ‘The Changing Social Worlds of 13-Year-Olds’, contrasts life experiences between the generations born in 2008 and 1998.
The study, conducted in 2021/2022 during the end period of the pandemic, indicates that lockdown procedures and distant learning may have affected the results to some extent. Despite some worrying trends, the majority of the results are optimistic.
One significant positive finding reveals a substantial reduction in financial pressure on families, a major factor contributing to adverse effects on teenagers. This financial relief has possibly led to lesser instances of conflict between children and parents. Presently, this generation is more inclined towards participating in organised sports and cultural activities, like music and theater, alongside showing an increased interest in school subjects.
However, the data suggests that this decrease in parent-child conflict is not as prevalent amongst girls. This anomaly is connected by the report to the growing emotional difficulties teenage girls are experiencing, mirroring increased demand for youth mental health services.
While not offering an opinion in the ongoing debate about the psychological effect of digital technology on adolescent development, the ESRI notes an apparent shift from television and video games consumption towards other screen-centered activities. This is indicative of the growing prevalence of mobile devices and social media. It has also been observed that girls now spend more screen time than boys, and 13-year-olds appear to have fewer close friendships.
The report emphasises that the primary factors determining a teenager’s level of happiness and engagement at home and at school are social and financial. With economic hardships, disability, and marginalisation potentially causing adverse effects, these aspects should be considered by those formulating policy.