Life satisfaction, worthwhile and happiness, however, remained unchanged during this time. Research also found that Wales was the only country to have higher anxiety ratings than the UK average.

The report, entitled ‘Personal wellbeing in the UK: Oct 2015 to Sept 2016’, included a survey of adults in the UK, to better understand how they feel about their lives.

Despite a growth in the levels of anxiety, the average ratings remained lower compared with the years ending September 2012 and 2013.
In addition to this, although there are no year-on-year improvements in life satisfaction, worthwhile or happiness, average ratings remain at their highest level since the ONS began collecting the data in 2011.

ONS believe that it is possible that the increase in anxiety in this period could be associated with the uncertainties surrounding governances, the economy and global security.

The latest period covered by this data includes the campaign for the European Union (EU) referendum and the three months following the Brexit result. Further to this, there has been serious flooding across parts of the UK as well as various terror attacks around the world, claims the ONS.

Matthew Steel, from the ONS, commented: “At a time when economic measures are generally improving, this is not necessarily reflected in how people tell us they are feeling about their lives.

“Whilst it is too early to say why anxiety ratings have increased slightly and why life satisfaction, happiness and worthwhile ratings have levelled off in the past 12 months, we know from our previous research that factors impacting most on people’s personal wellbeing include health, work situation and relationship status. Publishing this data quarterly, rather than annually, means we can monitor these trends more closely.”

Source:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplep...ng/oct2015tosept2016