Dutch adolescents feel less healthy, less happy and more stressed

Dutch teenagers are smoking and vaping more and still experiencing the effects of the coronavirus lockdown, a youth health survey conducted every four years shows.

The monitoring, carried out by the GGD health council and the RIVM health institute, covers 188,000 adolescents aged 12 to 16.

Researchers have found that younger adolescents are less positive about their health and happiness. In 2015, 88% reported being in very good health, but this figure fell to 80% in 2023.

Vaping and/or smoking has increased among young adolescents, from just 5% in 2019 to around 11% in 2023, which researchers say is particularly concerning. Vaping has quadrupled from 2% to 9% in the past four years and a recent investigation into vapes confiscated from schools found some products contained harmful chemicals.

Teenagers are more likely to report suffering from mental problems than in 2019, the survey found. Stress from homework and school is considered the main problem, followed by “all the things you have to do.” Half of adolescents reported feeling very stressed often.

Twice as many girls as boys report having psychological problems and suicidal thoughts. About 4% of adolescents reported having considered ending their life in the past 12 months.

Compared to an additional survey conducted during the pandemic in 2021, adolescents' mental health has stabilized, but researchers said it was worrying that it had not improved since restrictions ended.

Social media has also been found to be a cause of declining mental health, with more teenagers reporting being bullied online. Others said they weren't getting enough sleep or neglecting their homework because of social media.

About 1% of adolescents reported identifying as neither a girl nor a boy. The percentage of adolescents who considered themselves happy and healthy in this group was significantly lower, with higher scores on vaping, smoking and psychological problems.

Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts can chat with someone anonymously at www.113 or call the toll-free number 0800-0113.