Happy-ish news for a Friday morning: That anxiety you're feeling… That worry looming over you… Well, you're not alone – others feel it too. And though it's not quite a case of a problem shared is a problem halved (because unless you're Jay-Z, problems can't really be measured or counted), you might feel a bit better knowing everyone feels anxious now. And being open with your mates about your worries can really help your mental state.
A report from the Office of National Statisticshas found that women between 16 and 24 are much more likely than young men to worry about their health and suffer from anxiety – despite the fact that this is the era when they're outperforming men at school and uni exams.
The findings also showed that we're less satisfied with our income than men, because, well, duh, men tend to have higher pay than women. (Slight sliver-lining moment: We're at least more likely to feel that our jobs are worthwhile.)
There is actually more good news in the report, too. Most importantly, that young women are more likely to get support from their peers when feeling blue. This could be because women were found more likely to report any symptoms of depression and anxiety, and because they're more likely to say they have someone they could rely on for emotional support.
'Friendship is a crucial element in protecting our mental health. Friends form one of the foundations of our ability to cope with the problems that life throws at us,' says a spokesperson for the Mental Health Foundation.
However, though we've got our mates, the other clearest distinction between young men and women is bleakly unsurprising. Even though 70 per cent of women go on to get a first or second class degree, compared to 65 per cent of men, meaning therefore women are better qualified, young men are more satisfied with their income after university. This despite the fact that the gender pay gap among 20-somethings is supposed to have closed. Still, when you look at the comparisons with our European counterparts, no wonder we're all so anxious…
Follow Sophie on Twitter @sophwilkinson
Picture: Rory DCS
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.