More Than Half of UK Teenagers Say Christmas Builds Pressure Rather Than Joy, Survey Finds
A poll of nearly two thousand 13-16-year-olds reveals festive stress from school deadlines, social media and family expectations
More than half of teenagers in the United Kingdom say they feel overwhelmed in the lead-up to Christmas, according to a new survey by the charity The Children’s Society.
Among the 1,976 young people aged between thirteen and sixteen quizzed, fifty-six per cent reported that the buildup to the holidays felt “too much” rather than festive.
The poll showed that nearly a third of respondents pointed to looming schoolwork and examinations as major stressors, while twenty-eight per cent cited social media—with images of perfect gifts, parties and family scenes—as heightening the pressure.
One in five said one of the hardest parts was having to “look happy” when they did not feel that way.
Teenagers also detailed what would help them feel better.
Seventeen per cent said they would like less pressure to “perform” during the season, and twelve per cent said they wanted to feel more understood by the adults around them.
While approximately a quarter said social media made them feel worse about the holidays, a similar proportion said it made them feel better.
The biggest triggers on social media emerged as posts portraying “perfect family” scenes or trips that their friends or peers couldn’t afford.
Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children’s Society, observed that for many young people the holiday period has become less about sparkle and joy than about “noise and pressure”.
He emphasised the need for early support services that give teenagers somewhere safe to turn before their anxiety intensifies.
The charity is now calling for expanded and accessible wellbeing services, as well as greater recognition that the festive pressure can significantly affect young people’s mental health.
The findings arrive at a time when wider research points to mounting wellbeing challenges among younger age groups in the UK. In the context of low life satisfaction scores, rising costs of living and increased academic demands, the festive stress may act as one of several compounding factors for the mental health of young people this winter.
With the holiday period fast approaching, respondents’ honest reflections highlight an important shift: what is meant to be a season of joy can for many teenagers be a source of acute tension, suggesting that adults, schools and policy-makers may need to pause and listen more carefully.
Among the 1,976 young people aged between thirteen and sixteen quizzed, fifty-six per cent reported that the buildup to the holidays felt “too much” rather than festive.
The poll showed that nearly a third of respondents pointed to looming schoolwork and examinations as major stressors, while twenty-eight per cent cited social media—with images of perfect gifts, parties and family scenes—as heightening the pressure.
One in five said one of the hardest parts was having to “look happy” when they did not feel that way.
Teenagers also detailed what would help them feel better.
Seventeen per cent said they would like less pressure to “perform” during the season, and twelve per cent said they wanted to feel more understood by the adults around them.
While approximately a quarter said social media made them feel worse about the holidays, a similar proportion said it made them feel better.
The biggest triggers on social media emerged as posts portraying “perfect family” scenes or trips that their friends or peers couldn’t afford.
Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children’s Society, observed that for many young people the holiday period has become less about sparkle and joy than about “noise and pressure”.
He emphasised the need for early support services that give teenagers somewhere safe to turn before their anxiety intensifies.
The charity is now calling for expanded and accessible wellbeing services, as well as greater recognition that the festive pressure can significantly affect young people’s mental health.
The findings arrive at a time when wider research points to mounting wellbeing challenges among younger age groups in the UK. In the context of low life satisfaction scores, rising costs of living and increased academic demands, the festive stress may act as one of several compounding factors for the mental health of young people this winter.
With the holiday period fast approaching, respondents’ honest reflections highlight an important shift: what is meant to be a season of joy can for many teenagers be a source of acute tension, suggesting that adults, schools and policy-makers may need to pause and listen more carefully.
