Fewer young adults satisfied with their health; More mental health problems

The proportion of young adults who consider their health to be good or very good dropped by a tenth in three years. In 2020, 91 percent considered themselves healthy or very healthy. Last year, that was 82 percent, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported. “Since 2021, there have been more young people with psychological complaints,” CBS said.

In 2022 and 2023, 23 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds rated their health as very good. Before the coronavirus pandemic, that figure fluctuated around 30 percent. Both men and women less often rated their health as very good. Compared to previous years, men more often indicated that they were in good health, while women more often said they were doing “fine.”

Teenagers (12 to 18) are more positive about their physical health than young adults. Last year, 39 percent of teenagers described their health as very good and 53 percent as good. “This has remained virtually the same since 2018,” CBS said.

The mental health figures tell a different story. There are more psychological complaints among teenagers and young adults alike. The share of young people with psychological complaints increased during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in 2021, and then never returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Among young adults, 24 percent of women and 14 percent of men struggled with mental health problems last year. The same was true for 13 percent of teenage girls and 7 percent of teenage boys.