The Social Mobility Commission has published “Childhood Origins of Social Mobility,” an updated and expanded version of its influential 2016 report. This comprehensive study explores the factors affecting young people’s life chances across socio-economic groups, shedding light on current challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Mental Health Crisis Among Youth
The report reveals a potential crisis in adolescent mental health, with young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds more likely to experience anxiety and low self-esteem. Around 40% of lower working class girls aged 11-15 reported feeling nervous and losing confidence in new situations, compared to 31% of girls from higher professional backgrounds.
Shifting Patterns in Risky Behaviours
Interestingly, the report found that children aged 11-15 from more advantaged families were more likely to use alcohol, drugs, and vape. This represents a shift from previous findings, with 32% of young people from better-off families reporting alcohol consumption in the last month compared to 19% from poorer families.
Home Learning Environment
The study also explores how children are supported by their parents with learning at home. It found that parents from lower socio-economic groups are often more likely to support their children’s learning on a daily basis in certain areas, such as music, writing, and helping with maths homework. The report shares how 26% of lower-working-class parents help with writing every day compared to 21% of parents in the higher professional class.
Cultural Activities and Barriers to Participation
While parents across all socio-economic groups typically engage in similar cultural activities, with cinema visits being the most popular, working-class families participate less frequently. Poor health was identified as a key barrier to participation among lower-class families (15%) but not for those in the higher professional class (1%).
This report provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and anyone concerned with promoting equal opportunities and social mobility in the UK. It highlights the complex challenges facing young people and their families, emphasising the need for targeted interventions to support those most at risk of falling behind.
For more information, download a PDF of the report or read an HTML version.