Family relationships are crucial in shaping young people’s mental health and well-being. Our recent surveys across Northern Ireland have revealed fascinating insights into how children and young people experience family life and its impact on their emotional health. With responses from over 200 young people, we can now share what the data tells us about this important connection.
The Family-Wellbeing Connection: What We Found
Strong Positive Influence
The data shows an overwhelmingly positive picture of family relationships for most young people in Northern Ireland:
- Under-14s: 88% of younger children reported feeling either “happy” or “very happy” when with their family
- Over-14s: 66% of teenagers and young adults said their family life impacts their mental health either “positively” or “very positively”
These findings confirm what research has long suggested: supportive family environments create a strong foundation for positive mental health in young people. However, the number of people not experiencing this support is significant. The data from Voices for Impact also highlights that family relationships can be difficult for a minority of young people:
- 3.6% of under-14s reported feeling “not happy” or “a little sad” when with their family
- 10.3% of over-14s indicated that family life impacts their mental health “negatively” or “very negatively”
While these percentages are relatively small, they represent young people who may need additional support outside the family environment.
The Connection Between Family Life and Overall Wellbeing
Our analysis revealed clear connections between family relationships and overall mental wellbeing:
For Under-14s
Children who reported feeling “very happy” with their family were far more likely to have had “more happy days than sad days” in the previous week:
- 70% of children who feel “very happy” with their family reported having “more happy days”
- In contrast, only 33% of those feeling just “okay” with their family reported having “more happy days”
For Over-14s
The pattern was even more striking among teenagers and young adults:
- 84% of those reporting “very positive” family impacts rated their mental health as either “happy” or “very happy”
- Only 50% of those reporting “neutral” family impacts rated their mental health positively
- Among those reporting “negative” family impacts, just 25% rated their mental health as “happy,” with none rating it as “very happy”
These statistics demonstrate just how closely family relationships are tied to overall mental well-being.
Communication in Families
The survey also explored how comfortable young people feel talking about their feelings to someone in their family:
- 50% of under-14s find it “easy” or “very easy” to talk to someone when feeling sad or upset
- However, 24% find it “a bit hard” or “really hard” to open up
Interestingly, there was a clear correlation between positive family feelings and communication comfort:
- 58% of children who feel “very happy” with their family find it “easy” or “very easy” to talk when upset
- Only 33% of those feeling just “okay” with their family reported finding it “easy” to talk when upset
This suggests that positive family environments may help young people develop better emotional communication skills.
Gender Differences
Our data showed some notable gender variations in family experiences:
- Males: 87.5% of boys under 14 reported feeling “happy” or “very happy” with their family, while 68% of males over 14 said family had a “positive” or “very positive” impact
- Females: 90% of girls under 14 felt “happy” or “very happy” with family, and 64% of females over 14 reported “positive” or “very positive” family impacts
This suggests that while early family experiences are similarly positive across genders, there may be some divergence in teenage years, with females slightly more likely to report negative family impacts on their mental health.
Regional Variations
The survey captured responses from across Northern Ireland, with some geographical patterns emerging:
- Belfast had the highest number of respondents in both age groups
- Derry and Strabane showed slightly higher rates of negative family impact among over-14s (17% compared to the average of 10%)
- Mid and East Antrim showed particularly positive family relationships for under-14s (89% “happy” or “very happy”)
These regional variations may reflect different social and economic factors affecting family life across Northern Ireland.
Activities that Support Family Wellbeing
When asked about activities that support their mental wellbeing, many young people mentioned family-related activities:
Recommendations for Supporting Family Wellbeing
Based on our findings, we recommend the following approaches to support positive family impacts on youth mental health:
- Promote family communication: Create opportunities for open, non-judgmental conversations within families about feelings and mental health.
- Support struggling families: Develop targeted interventions for the 10% of young people reporting negative family impacts on their mental health.
- Encourage shared activities: Promote accessible, low-cost activities that families can enjoy together, as these clearly support wellbeing.
- Build communication skills: Help young people develop the confidence to talk about difficult feelings, especially those who find this challenging.
- Regional support: Consider how family support services might be tailored to different regions based on identified needs.
Supporting Young People Through Family Approaches
For parents, carers, and those working with young people, these findings highlight several practical steps:
- Create regular opportunities for quality time without distractions
- Establish open communication channels where young people feel safe sharing their feelings
- Recognize that family dynamics change as children move into adolescence
- Be aware that some young people struggle to share difficult feelings, even in supportive families
- Consider how gender might influence family interactions and emotional expression
Join the Conversation
Our findings demonstrate the powerful influence family relationships have on young people’s mental health in Northern Ireland. By understanding these connections, we can better support young people to thrive.
Want to contribute to the discussion? Visit the Voices for Impact website to add your voice to our growing understanding of youth wellbeing. Completing our Good Health and Wellbeing survey’ll help you build a more comprehensive picture of young people’s experiences across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the UK.
These insights provide valuable guidance on supporting healthy family dynamics for youth workers, teachers, and parents. Share this article with colleagues and families to spread awareness of how crucial positive family relationships are for young people’s mental health.
Why don’t you think about asking Bytes how you can support us? Visit www.bytes.org to find out more.
Together, we can ensure more young people experience the positive family environments that clearly contribute to better mental health outcomes.
This article is based on data from 112 under-14s and 97 over-14s who completed the Good Health and Well-being surveys through the Voices for Impact platform between January and April 2025.
Read more of our blogs: at www.voicesforimpact.ai or www.bytes.org.