Children’s Well-being in UK, Sweden and Spain: The Role of Inequality and Materialism. A qualitative study

Following on from UNICEF’s pioneering report in 2007, which ranked the UK bottom in child well-being compared to other industrialised nations, the research released today has shown that children in the UK feel trapped in a “materialistic culture” and don’t spend enough time with their families. The report gives an in-depth comparison of over 250 children’s experiences across three developed countries: the UK, Sweden and Spain. Children in all three countries told researchers that their happiness is dependent on having time with a stable family and plenty of things to do, especially outdoors, rather than on owning technology or branded clothes.