A study exploring adolescent girls’ perspectives on the factors driving their high rates of low mood and anxiety found that gendered expectations, academic pressure, and peer relationships are among the interconnected factors contributing to their increased risk compared to their male counterparts.
Researchers from the University of Manchester set out to examine the reasons behind why young girls are experiencing high rates of anxiety and low moods. The research was informed by the first-hand perspective of the adolescent girls themselves, a perspective missing from the evidence so far, particularly in the UK, the researchers say.
The findings, published in BMC Women’s Health, suggest that a ‘nuanced understanding of gender-specific contexts’ can enhance future research, policy, and practice efforts to meet girls’ needs and help tackle this key public health issue.
The researchers worked with participants and other stakeholders to design a qualitative study based on focus groups. The study sought to analyse the different influences in the girls’ environments, such as family, school, social media, and societal expectations, that could shape their experiences of low mood and anxiety.
The focus groups were conducted in 2022 with 32 girls aged 16-18 in England. Using reflexive thematic analysis, the researchers looked for patterns and trends in the data, which highlighted how different social and environmental factors influence their experiences of low mood and anxiety. Through first-hand perspectives, the researchers were able to highlight the young girls’ lived experiences and perceptions of what drives high levels of low mood and anxiety.
The researchers found that low mood and anxiety were widespread amongst young girls, with participants framing low mood and anxiety as ‘normal’ within their demographic. Several contributing factors were identified as the causes, including gendered expectations, educational pressures, peer relationships and social media experiences.
From a young age, girls were found to have a high level of gendered expectations relating to how they should look and behave. The pressure from gendered beliefs to be quiet, polite and beautiful left girls feeling insecure and worthless, contributing significantly to low mood and anxiety.
Educational pressures were also high and were often perceived to be heightened by gendered expectations.
Friendship dynamics and conflicts within peer relationships also contributed to feelings of anxiety and low mood, whilst online social media contributed to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety.
The young girls felt many of the contributing factors overlapped and stressed the complexity of the issues, including nuances around individual differences, sociodemographic contexts, and societal contexts.
Dr Ola Demkowicz, from the University of Manchester, said: ‘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.’
