Schoolchildren in Ukraine turned out to be more optimistic than their parents: statistics on students’ life satisfaction

In 2025, more than 80% of Ukrainian schoolchildren noted that they feel happy, satisfied with their lives, and see meaning in their activities. These results are presented in the annual report of the SavED charity foundation.

According to the study, the general well-being of students continues to grow – schoolchildren increasingly express satisfaction with life, as well as a sense of happiness and meaning. To assess well-being, the authors of the study used the methodology of the UK National Statistics Office, asking participants to rate their level of life satisfaction, sense of meaning, happiness, and anxiety on a scale from 0 to 10.

According to the survey, 82% of students are satisfied with their lives (62% of them – completely or mostly), 81% see meaning in their daily activities, and 80% consider themselves happy. At the same time, 59% do not feel anxiety, while 33% revealed an increased level of anxiety.

The report’s authors highlighted a link between well-being and perceived social status. Among those who consider themselves to be in the highest social classes, 80% are satisfied with their lives, compared with only 36% of those in the lowest. Similar trends are observed in happiness, although anxiety levels remain less variable.

Among parents, 73% reported being satisfied with their lives (49% completely or mostly), 89% felt meaningful in their work, and 78% considered themselves happy. However, 21% of parents believed that their children needed psychological support, and 38% were already providing such support, usually from close family members and less frequently from professionals.

The researchers also noted that 48% of parents with low social status expressed a need for psychological support for their children, suggesting limited resources and increased vulnerability in such families.