New research published in BMC Women’s Health has shed light on adolescent girls’ own views on why their demographic is experiencing increasing rates of low mood and anxiety.
The study by researchers including The University of Manchester’s Dr Ola Demkowicz engaged directly with girls aged 16-18 in England to explore their perspectives on this growing public health concern.
It found that many girls feel that experiencing low mood and anxiety is ‘normal’ for their age group, but particularly for their own generation. The girls identified several interconnected factors contributing to these feelings:
From a young age, girls face constant pressure to conform to strict and narrow stereotypes about how they should look and behave. This includes pressure to be quiet, polite, and beautiful according to very specific standards, which can lead to feelings of insecurity and worthlessness.
The girls described intense academic pressure to achieve top grades and behave perfectly, leaving little room for mistakes. The girls said they felt this pressure may be even greater for girls, who can feel like they are expected to excel.
Challenges in friendships – including comparison, competition and conflict – contribute to stress and lower self-esteem.
Girls suggested that platforms – particularly ones that focus on visual content like Instagram and TikTok – can magnify insecurities by promoting unrealistic standards of appearance and achievement, and create opportunities for excessive comparison that can feel hard to navigate.
The study emphasises that these issues are complex and interwoven, with no easy solutions. Participants themselves cautioned against oversimplifying the problem and highlighted the need to consider individual differences and social contexts.
“The insights we gained through exploration with girls themselves hold policy and practical relevance to enhance systems to meet girls’ needs. Our study suggests a need for schools and communities to challenge gender stereotypes, address academic pressures, support healthy peer relationships and promote responsible social media engagement.”said Dr Ola Demkowicz
