Background to the Research

• It has been estimated that around one in five young people will experience mental health problems during the formative years of adolescence. This research was undertaken to help understand what young people in NI have concerns about - now and in their future; and to explore what helps them cope with these issues.
• The research was built on a previous study, which developed a questionnaire to identify concerns to young people in NI. The findings are intended to enable the 'Design for Living' partnership to take action to inform young people in NI of the positive steps they can take to support their own mental wellbeing.
  

Research Approach

• A NI wide omnibus survey (October and November 2000) included questions on what young people worry about and what they do to make themselves feel better when anxious or down. The survey used a quota-controlled sample, representative of the NI population. The quota controls were by gender, age, social class and region. Interviewing was carried out at 50 randomly selected sampling points in NI. Two waves of the sample yielded 414 young people aged 16-25.
  

Main Findings

• Only 4% of the young people said they didn't worry about anything. The main issues noted were worries about school, work or career. More than half (54%) cited worries around these issues, such as not being able to get a job or get on a course, or uncertainty about what job or course to choose, or anxiety over schoolwork and exams.
• Lack of money was the next main issue (53% of respondents). Issues such as appearance, lack of confidence, popularity and health were cited by 15%, as were worries about the health and safety of their children/other family members and friends. Nine percent worried about not being able to find a partner or problems with a boyfriend/girlfriend.
• When presented with a list from which to choose, the issues which respondents said they worry most frequently about still involved money. However, when prompted on social issues, concerns about work and school fell further down the list.
• More than two-thirds (68%) said they worried about not having enough money. This was the case for slightly more females than males. More of those in social group DE worried about not having enough money than those in the C2 and ABC1 social groups. Those who were not working or studying reported worrying most about lack of money.
• Just over half of respondents (52%) were worried about a return to the Troubles, with more Catholics than Protestants feeling this way. More of those in the ABC1 social class grouping than in the C2 and DE groupings reported this worry.
• Half of the sample said they worried about the future, with more females than males reporting this worry.
• Appearance was a worry for 47% of respondents; 65% of females compared to 28% of males reported this worry. Young men and women aged 16-19 years old were much more likely to report this than males and females in the 20-25 year group.
• A total of 43% of young people were worried about crime and violence, with females (48%) more likely than males (38%) to report this. Protestant respondents (46%) were more likely than Catholics (37%) to worry about these, although there were variations with age - more Protestants in the older than younger age group; and more Catholics in the younger than older age group worried about these.
• Worries about not being able to get a job were reported by 35% of the young people. More females than males reported this. While there was no variation in relation to age with females, a greater proportion of younger than older males reported this worry. A greater proportion of those who were not working than those in full time employment or full time education; and more of those in the C2 and DE social groupings, than those in the ABC1 grouping, reported this worry.
• Not being able to decide what to do in terms of work, further education or training was a worry for 35% of the sample. More of the younger group reported this. Thirty percent noted worries about being in a job or course they don't enjoy. Sixty percent of those in full time education reported worrying about schoolwork and exams.
• One third had worries about the drug problem in NI. More females than males reported this worry.
• Worrying about a relationship with a girlfriend/boyfriend was an issue for 29%, with females and the younger group more likely to report this.
• Worrying about lack of confidence was reported by 27%; more females than males, and more of the younger age group had this worry. Fewer young people who work, than those in full time education or who do not work, and a greater proportion of those in the ABC1 and DE social class groupings, than those in the C2 group, had this worry.
• The majority (79%) of the sample chose an option that they felt OK or optimistic about their future, while 12% were not sure things will get sorted out and 7% felt hopeless about the problems ahead. Females were less optimistic than males. Those who were not working and those in social class DE were least optimistic. Older males in social class ABC1 were the most optimistic group.
• The most frequently cited methods to feel better were talking to friends or having a night out with friends. When given a list, the most commonly chosen methods were listening to music, talking to friends and arranging a night out with friends. The least popular things were talking to someone at an advice service or agency or taking drugs.
• While males and females chose the same top three activities to alleviate worries, there were gender differences found in the other activities they chose.
• More of the younger than older age group used physical activity, which was also the case for more of those in social class grouping ABC1, than in C2 and DE. Those not working were less likely to use physical activity, than those in employment or full time education. Shopping was a popular choice with females. Those in social class C2 were less likely to say they would go shopping than those in ABC1 and DE. A third of the sample said they would drink to feel better; more males than females, and more of those working full time, said this.
• A third of the sample said they would smoke to make themselves feel better: slightly more females than males; more of the older than younger respondents; more of those in social class DE than in ABC and C2; and more of those not working gave this answer.
• The most frequent replies to things they would be most likely to do were: listen to music, talk to friends, and arrange a night out.

Conclusions

• Given the sample used, inferences cannot be drawn for the whole 16-25 year old population. However, the results do give an indication of young people's current concerns. A number of issues were identified, including personal and social worries. The importance of learning about and discussing positive ways to address common worries is noted, with life and social skills education, personal development programmes and job search skills and careers guidance identified as essential.
• The importance of the community context of worries is emphasised, given the fact that young people in NI have experienced, on average, double the number of negative life events and report a much higher stress or impact score than young people in other countries.
• Work to address health inequalities in NI should take into account the impact of crime and violence on mental health and wellbeing.
• The emotional difficulties experienced by young men, who may find it hard to express their personal problems, should not be overlooked.
• Innovative ways to engage young people in lifelong physical activity will have an impact on mental wellbeing and should be developed.
• The results highlight the need to ensure that services available are readily accessible and acceptable to young people. By sharing good practice, those interventions that have proven effective can be known to all.
• Increasing resilience must remain the focus in addressing the mental health and wellbeing needs of young people.