What issues are concerning Australian teenagers today? Previous research has focused on quantifying the intensity and frequency of adolescent concerns. To date, little has been done to investigate the content of these concerns. Between 2020-2022, we asked 5982 Year 8 students to tell us, in their own words, ‘What issues are concerning you at the moment? These could relate to you, your community, or the world. You can list up to three.’

Over 10,000 valid responses were received, which we analysed in the context of students’ personal, environmental, and school characteristics. The most frequently reported concerns were related to school and academics. This finding was consistent across girls and boys, in metropolitan and regional areas, and for those attending different types of schools.

Although school-related concerns topped the list overall, for students experiencing clinically-significant levels of anxiety or depression, the top concerns were more often about mental health and social relationships. Similarly, for students who identified as LGBTQIA+ (accounting for up to 22% of participating students), mental health and social relationships were the most common concerns, emphasising the need for targeted social and mental health support for these groups. Other frequently reported top concerns were related to the environment, society, and politics, reflecting the growing political and environmental awareness in young adolescents.

This presentation will provide a unique insight into the experiences and perspectives of adolescents in Australia today, providing a platform for their voices to be heard. These students will continue to be surveyed for the next five years, providing an opportunity to track developmental shifts in concerns over time.