Newly published research sheds light on concerning trends in the health and wellbeing of primary school children in Wales.
The study, by the National Centre for Population Health & Wellbeing Research, explored changes in health and wellbeing outcomes in 36,951 primary school children in Wales from 2014 to 2022, showing a significant decline in various aspects of childhood health and wellbeing over an eight-year period. The research revealed that this decline predates the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating that its origins extend beyond the pandemic’s influence alone.
The study analysed data collected from an annual survey by HAPPEN-Wales, which gathered information from over 600 primary schools in Wales. The survey captured self-reported information on physical health, dietary habits, mental health, and overall wellbeing from children aged 8–11.
Why is this research necessary?
Childhood experiences help shape future life achievements, mental health, and overall wellbeing. Previous studies reveal that half of mental health issues are established by age 14, with childhood experiences impacting brain development. Given this, the wellbeing of school-aged children is crucial for the next generation’s health.
Recent global research indicates a concerning rise in childhood mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. Additionally, there’s been a decline in physical health, evidenced by rising obesity rates and decreased fitness levels.
This study aimed to explore childhood trends, examining the impact of crises like the pandemic on children’s health and wellbeing in Wales.
Key findings include:
- Decline in Physical Health: The study reveals a concerning decline in physical health among primary school children. Findings show a significant decrease in abilities related to swimming and cycling, with only 68% of children reporting being able to swim in 2022 compared to 85% in 2018.
- Unhealthy Dietary Habits: The findings show a shift towards unhealthy dietary habits, including decreased consumption of fruits and vegetables and increased intake of sugary snacks among children.
- A drop in hours of sleep: In 2015, 92% of children managed to sleep for 9 hours or more each night. But by 2022, that number dropped to just 68%.
- An overall increase in tiredness: 41% of children felt tired more than 3 days a week in 2014, which remained relatively steady until 2019. However, from 2019 onwards, there has been a noticeable rise and by 2022, the percentage of children experiencing frequent tiredness had climbed to 54%. Data revealed that the number of sugary snacks consumed was associated with increased tiredness.
- Increase in loneliness: Since 2019, the number of children feeling lonely increased from 55% to 63% in 2022, with findings indicating a connection between feeling lonely and eating more sugary snacks.
- The rise in Mental Health Issues: Mental health challenges, including emotional and behavioural difficulties, have shown a marked increase. Emotional challenges, for instance, affected 13% -15 % of children in 2017–2018, rising to impact 29% of children in 2021–2022.
- Decline in Wellbeing Indicators: Indicators of wellbeing, autonomy, and competence have experienced a downward trend, highlighting a concerning decline in overall wellbeing among primary school children in Wales.
Johanna Einhorn, Lead author, said: “The health of primary school children in Wales has been on a downward trajectory since 2018/2019, and this decline has persisted throughout the COVID recovery period.
Our research indicates that these worrying trends in childhood health and wellbeing began before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that they cannot be solely attributed to its effects.
It is also essential to recognise that the pandemic and its accompanying restrictions could have exacerbated these issues, and broader political and societal challenges like Brexit and the “cost of living” crisis may have further complicated matters.
Our study emphasises the urgent need for interventions and policies to promote healthier lifestyles and support children’s mental and physical wellbeing across Wales.”