Success and Freedom

Children happier in term-time with Easter holidays most gloomy, study finds

While many people draw a direct link between chocolate and happiness, children on their Easter break might disagree. 

Researchers have discovered that despite a ready supply of Easter eggs they are more unhappy during their two-week holiday in April than at any other time of year. 

Children are unhappiest during the Easter holidays because they miss their friends and spend more time in front of a computer screen, the study of 6,000 children found. 

The findings suggest that holidays are less important for children's happiness than they are for adults', because they have less control over how they use their time. 

Research published by the University of Essex found that children stop doing the activities they enjoy during the Easter holidays and spend less time with their friends. 

The study, which was carried out by Dr Gundi Knies, Research Fellow at the University of Essex, followed 6,000 children, who were aged between 10 and 15, over five years. 

Children were asked to rate their happiness from 1 to 7 at different times of the year, with 7 being the happiest. 

Their life satisfaction was measured against a range of factors, including family income, gender, age and ethnicity. 

Children were happiest overall during term time, and less happy during school holidays, with Easter the worst time. 

This was the case whether or not the child was successful at school.

"The effect showed for long holidays such as Easter and summer vacations as well as for shorter (up to 1 week) public holidays. 

"Thus, however good or bad school may be, removal from the school context is associated with satisfaction losses," the paper said. 

The study also suggests that some children are cooped up at home during the holidays, because of factors such as a lower availability of public transport. 

It suggests that the Government should be focusing on providing activities during holiday time to improve children's wellbeing, particularly for less well-off families who can't afford to go away. 

Dr Knies said: “Holidays are an integral feature of modern life in developed countries and it is surprising that children are, on average, unhappier during the holidays than during school term. 

"Holidays are typically viewed as an important vehicle to maintaining a high quality of life but this may depend on whether you are sitting in the driver’s seat or not. 

Many activities children would engage in during term time stop during the holidays and friends may not be around.”

White boys and girls from ethnic minority backgrounds have lower than average levels of satisfaction with their lives, the research also found. 

The looming prospect of exams is also a potential reason why children feel particularly unhappy at Easter. 

Most exams take place during the summer term, meaning children could be particularly stressed by them during Easter, or spending a significant amount of time revising. 

Earlier this week a study found that children as young as four were suffering from panic attacks and anxiety, which were partly down to the pressures of exams and revising. 

Social media use was also cited as a factor in children's poor mental health by 72 per cent of teachers interviewed for a study by teaching union The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers.

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