MCS Age 14 initial findings

Through the Millennium Cohort Study we have been following the lives of over 19, 500 children since they were born in the UK at the turn of the new century. We carry out regular surveys to collect information about participants’ physical, socio-emotional, cognitive and behavioural development over time, alongside detailed information on their daily life, behaviour and experiences.

The most recent survey took place when participants were aged 14. Between now and April 2018, we will be publishing our initial findings from the age 14 survey. These will cover a range of themes, from levels of obesity to teenage aspirations. You can read them here:

Mental ill-health and wellbeing at age 14

This paper highlights how:

• Certain factors, such as being overweight, not getting along with peers and being bullied, were associated with high depressive symptoms for boys and girls at age 14.
• At at age 14, girls from homes with lower family income were more likely to report poorer mental health and lower wellbeing than their better-off peers.
• Girls who enjoyed primary school and felt engaged in their studies were less likely to have higher depressive symptoms at age 14.
• Mental ill-health and poor wellbeing do not always go hand in hand: a large proportion of young people experienced low wellbeing despite not having high depressive symptoms; and a very small proportion of individuals, mainly boys, experienced good wellbeing in the presence of mental ill-health.

Read the briefing paper here.

Risky behaviours: prevalence in adolescence

This paper explores:

• How common risk-taking behaviour is among teenagers in the UK.
• Which risky activities teenagers are more likely to get involved in, including substance use and anti-social behaviour.
• How risky behaviours differ according to teenagers’ backgrounds.

Read the briefing paper

Reading the full working paper, Determinants of risky behaviours in adolescence