Published: May 1st, 2024. The Conversation. Author: Dr Michaela James, The National Centre for Population Health & Wellbeing Research.
The COVID pandemic affected several aspects of children’s health and wellbeing. The number of children referred to specialist mental health teams in England has soared by more than 50% in just three years, for example. But recent research from my colleagues and I reveal that problems such as these were increasing even before the pandemic.
Our study explored changes in the health and wellbeing of 36,951 primary school children between 2014 and 2022. We analysed the data from anonymous annual surveys given to children aged between eight and 11 in Wales. The questions covered various aspects of health and wellbeing such as physical activity, diet, sleep and mental health and wellbeing.
It shows a significant decline in various aspects of childhood health and wellbeing over an eight-year period. While societal factors like Brexit, the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis likely play a role, our research suggests a decline was underway even before these events.
Understanding these trends is crucial. Childhood experiences significantly affect adult health and behaviour, with half of all mental health problems established by age 14.