by Joe Stafford, University of Manchester

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

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:

The study emphasizes 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, " says Dr. Ola Demkowicz.

More information: Ola Demkowicz et al, Adolescent girls' explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative study, BMC Women's Health (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03517-x