The case summarized The quality of life among young people between 18 and 24 continues to increase after having decreased during the corona pandemic. The average score for satisfaction with life among young people has increased from 6.4 to 6.8 from 2023 to 2024. The increase is greatest among young men. Researchers at FHI view the development positively, but point out that the changes are small and that there may be variations from year to year. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I have a very good quality of life. It is special to live in Sogndal, because there is quite a lot to do here and it is easy to stay active, says 22-year-old Jacob Almås. He and his friend Eirik Halleland are in the middle of a climbing session at Sogndal climbing centre. They are both very happy with life right now. The quality of life among young people between the ages of 18 and 24 continues to increase after having decreased during the corona pandemic. This is shown by recent figures from Statistics Norway (SSB). Eirik Halleland in Sogndal is satisfied with his life. Photo: Oda Flaten Lødemel From 2023 to 2024, the average score for satisfaction with life among young people has increased from 6.4 to 6.8. The answer is given on a scale from one to ten. The increase is greatest among young men, who are generally more satisfied with life than young women. – Being physically active in my free time in community with others is important for my quality of life in any case, says 22-year-old Halleland. For young people, the average satisfaction is at roughly the same level as at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Satisfaction with leisure time, health and finances It is especially physical and mental health, leisure time and financial situation that young men report higher satisfaction with than young women . The increase for men is clearest in the following areas: Satisfaction with leisure time, up 0.4 points for men and 0.2 for women. Satisfaction with financial situation, up 0.4 points for men and 0.1 for women. Advisor at Statistics Norway, Kristina Strand Støren, says that the findings may indicate that it has taken a little longer for the quality of life to improve for young men than for young women, after the pandemic. – It is important to note that the changes are small, and that if we look back over a slightly longer time perspective, we have also seen an increase in the quality of life for women. The students in the climbing wall say good, social relationships and time to engage in leisure activities are alpha and omega for their quality of life. Photo: Oda Flaten Lødemel / news Støren thinks it may be a coincidence that it is increasing for young men right now. She points out that young women have previously reported greater increases in quality of life in certain areas than men. Although it has taken longer for the quality of life in some areas to increase for men than for women after the pandemic, men are more satisfied with life than women in several areas, she adds. The quality of life survey Survey that Statistics Norway has carried out every year since 2020. Web-based questionnaire that is sent out to 40,000 people. The response rate is around 40 percent. This year, 17,257 people responded. Around 700 men and just under 900 women aged 18-24 responded to this year’s survey. The question concerns both quality of life and living conditions. In 2024, the survey was carried out in the period 4–27 March. The first survey was carried out between 9 and 29 March, the same time as the first measures in the corona pandemic were introduced. To some extent, it provides a basis for comparison from before the pandemic. Nevertheless, the survey shows that those between 18-24 are less satisfied with mental health, the place they live, their free time and financial situation compared to those aged 45 and over, with the exception of satisfaction with physical health. – It is wise to have an even longer time perspective and more thorough analyzes to see if there are lasting differences between the sexes. Although young people state that the quality of life is increasing, they are still less satisfied with life in many areas than older people. Young people more affected by the pandemic Researcher Thomas Hansen at the Institute of Public Health (FHI) seems to be speaking to Statistics Norway, showing a positive development. – Much attention has been paid to the low and reduced quality of life among young people and young adults. According to him, the increase in quality of life may be related to the fact that the young were perhaps more affected by the pandemic. Therefore, they may have reported lower satisfaction in the first measurements. – This again results in a steeper growth curve when we look at satisfaction up to today. Young people reported a poorer quality of life during the pandemic. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth In addition, it may be that the young are less affected by negative changes in the economy and the housing market than the slightly older. Hansen points out that the differences are nevertheless small, and that there is no question of dramatic changes in young people’s quality of life. – We have to bear in mind that the response rate is quite low, that the selection of those who participate is small, and that it may be the case that the numbers can fluctuate slightly from year to year. According to him, it remains to be seen whether the positive development will continue, or whether the quality of life has fallen more back to normal for the groups after the pandemic Published 11.11.2024, at 05.43
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