Home
Apple News
Why anxiety and low mood are rising in teen girls - in their own words

Why anxiety and low mood are rising in teen girls - in their own words

Girls aged 16 to 18 share the pressures they believe are affecting their mental health, from stereotypes to exam stress.

A young teenage girl looking out of her window at sunset

Published: March 17, 2026 at 10:27 AM

Save

Concerns about girls’ mental health have been growing for years, with NHS data showing that young women aged 17 to 19 are twice as likely to have a mental health disorder as young men.

Researchers have often pointed to possible causes, including social media, academic pressure and the sexualisation of girls. But until recently, girls themselves have rarely been asked how they see the issue.

A 2025 study involving teenage girls across England helped to change that. Researchers spoke directly with girls aged 16 to 18 to understand what they believe is driving rising levels of anxiety and low mood among their peers.

Listening directly to girls

The research involved conversations with 32 girls from different ethnic and religious backgrounds across England. The project was designed alongside two young women whose lived experience helped shape the questions and interpretation of the findings.

Rather than studying girls’ mental health from the outside, the team wanted to understand how teenage girls themselves interpret the pressures they face.

Across the discussions, several common themes emerged, including gender stereotypes, academic expectations and social media comparisons.

How gender stereotypes affect girls’ confidence

Many girls described feeling pressure to fit narrow expectations about how girls should behave or present themselves.

Some said they had been criticised or mocked for interests seen as “unfeminine”, while others recalled being told to smile or change their behaviour to appear more acceptable.

These experiences, the girls explained, can chip away at confidence and self-worth.

Sunita, one of the girls who took part in the study, explained that insecurities often run deeper than adults may assume.

“People think that an insecure girl is just someone who thinks, ‘oh, my hair isn’t good enough’,” she said. “but it’s so much deeper than that.”

I think a lot of the insecurities within girls (come from the fact) that they just don’t feel like … a person because of how they’ve been treated.

Sunita, one of the girls who took part in the study

The conversations also highlighted how some girls feel these stereotypes can contribute to issues such as sexual harassment in school settings becoming normalised.

Researchers say existing studies already suggest strict gender norms can create stress and worry for girls, which may partly help explain why rates of low mood are higher among them.

The pressure to succeed at school

Academic expectations were another major concern raised in the discussions.

Many girls described feeling intense pressure around exams and coursework, particularly in the lead up to GCSEs. Several said they worried about making mistakes or felt they had to prove themselves academically.

Hannah, who took part in the study, described how the pressure intensified during key school years.

“In year nine I was perfectly fine,” she recalled, “and then in year ten I was really sad and really depressed and I had so much anxiety because I really wanted to do well in my GCSEs”.

Research has previously linked academic stress with mental health challenges, and some evidence suggests the impact may be stronger for girls.

At the same time, national surveys have found that school satisfaction among young people has fallen sharply in recent years, raising further questions about how school pressures may be affecting teenagers’ wellbeing.

Social media comparisons and unrealistic standards

Social media was another topic the girls discussed at length. While some said it helped them connect with others or find supportive communities, many described it as a space where comparison is almost unavoidable.

Visual platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were highlighted as particularly challenging, because they often emphasise appearance and curated lifestyles.

Several girls said they understood that many posts are unrealistic or heavily edited, but still found themselves comparing their lives and looks with what they saw online.

Kira described how easily these comparisons can happen without people even realising.

In your mind you’re comparing yourself without even thinking about it and that affects your mood.

Kira, one of the girls who took part in the study

Researchers note that growing evidence suggests the impact of social media on mental health depends less on the amount of time spent online and more on the type of experiences people have there. For girls, comparison and appearance-based pressures may play a particularly significant role.

Why girls want adults to listen

The study highlights the importance of involving young people themselves when trying to understand mental health trends.

For the girls who took part, one of the most important messages was the need for supportive environments where they feel able to talk openly about what they are going through.

Researchers say that for parents, teachers and anyone supporting teenage girls, creating space for honest conversations can make a meaningful difference.

Giving girls opportunities to share their experiences and perspectives, they suggest, may be key to better understanding the challenges they face and how to support their wellbeing.