Why this survey matters now
Four in ten children and adolescents in Taiwan say the world would be no different without them, according to the latest Child Welfare League Foundation survey. The share who feel this level of alienation has reached a three year high. At the same time, children’s self reported life satisfaction rose to 72 out of 100, up from last year, yet it still trails international benchmarks from the Health Behavior in School aged Children study. The gap is widest for 13 year old girls, who recorded a score of 48.9, far below their peers overseas.
The portrait that emerges is one of stability at home and among friends paired with fragile self identity and a limited sense of control. Children were most satisfied with their home environment and friendships. They were least satisfied with their appearance, followed by free time and the ability to make choices in daily life. Only 27 percent of children described themselves as very healthy, and that figure fell to about 16 percent among 13 year old girls. Many viewed their appearance negatively and believed they were overweight compared with the international average. Sleep tends to be better than in many countries, but children exercise less, with only 24.5 percent of 13 year old girls regularly active.
Peer support inside classrooms is strikingly weak. Only 46.7 percent felt classmates were friendly, helpful or accepting. Nearly half said they often felt isolated or could not integrate well in class, a pattern that research links to declines in mood and motivation. Academic pressure also arrives early in Taiwan. Stress is already present for 40.8 percent of 11 year old boys. Among girls, study pressure rises by roughly ten percentage points between ages 11 and 13. School satisfaction is low, with only about 29.5 percent of students saying they really like school. Among 13 year old girls, that share drops to around 10 percent.
The findings land on World Children’s Day and set a clear agenda. CWLF welcomed the government’s plan to establish a Children and Families Administration within the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The group is urging earlier prevention in mental health, stronger school and community supports, and simple lifestyle shifts like family sports on weekends. The survey also sits alongside a growing body of data on screen heavy leisure, online risks and help seeking patterns that increasingly include generative AI, all of which shape how young people feel about themselves.
What the 2025 CWLF survey found
The survey paints a mixed picture. Many children feel secure at home and have stable friendships. Yet self worth is fragile and agency over daily life feels limited. Appearance concerns weigh heavily, especially among adolescent girls. Physical activity is low, while sleep is somewhat better than international averages. Inside classrooms, relationships do not feel warm enough to buffer stress, and school satisfaction is weak.
- Life satisfaction is 72 out of 100, still behind international averages.
- Psychological alienation is rising, with 39.1 percent agreeing it would not matter if they were not in this world.
- Thirteen year old girls reported a happiness score of 48.9, far below international peers.
- Only 27 percent of children consider themselves very healthy, dropping to about 15.8 percent among 13 year old girls.
- Sleep is relatively adequate, but exercise is low. Only 24.5 percent of 13 year old girls regularly exercise.
- Only 46.7 percent feel classmates are friendly or helpful. Nearly half report isolation in class interactions.
- School satisfaction is low. About 29.5 percent really like school, and only around 10 percent of 13 year old girls say the same.
These data points fit a pattern that many families recognize. Children move through regimented days with predictable routines. That steadiness does not translate into confidence about body image or decision making. The result is a gap between stability and a sense of self that feels valued and in control.
Why 13 year old girls are struggling
Adolescence is a period of rapid change. In Taiwan, the transition to junior high grades often brings heavier schoolwork, longer days and more comparisons with peers. Body image concerns rise sharply around this age, and girls report the largest drops in well being. In the CWLF survey, 13 year old girls were far less likely than boys to see themselves as very healthy. They were also much less likely to maintain regular exercise, a protective habit for mood and self esteem. Communication gaps matter too. Only a third of 13 year old girls say they feel comfortable talking to their fathers, which can leave them without a trusted adult to navigate stress and social conflicts.
Academic research offers context for the gender difference. A study using data from the PISA 2022 assessment found that emotional regulation skills among 15 year olds in Taiwan vary by gender and learning stage. Transitions between grades are a risk point for declines in regulation. Male students were more likely to fall into higher regulation profiles than females, while family and cultural pressures shape how emotions are managed. The learning environment and supportive relationships can make a difference in how students cope with stress.
At a recent CWLF international conference on youth mental health in the social media era, a global child rights expert set the bar for how countries should respond. Prof. Jaap E. Doek, former chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, underscored mental health as a core right for young people.
Prof. Jaap E. Doek said mental health is part of every child’s right to health under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. He urged governments and civil society to treat adolescent mental health as a fundamental right.
Academic pressure starts early and shapes daily life
Pressure linked to schoolwork emerges earlier in Taiwan than in many countries. The CWLF reports stress among 40.8 percent of 11 year old boys. Among girls, the share reporting stress rises from 34.5 percent at age 11 to 46 percent at age 13. Students are more likely to describe school as something they endure rather than enjoy. Only three in ten say they really like school, and only about one in ten 13 year old girls do.
Family routines amplify this arc. Surveys of parents show anxious planning for after school hours. About 80 percent fear their child will fall behind academically, and 65 percent enroll children in cram schools or extra classes. One in five students returns home after 8 p.m., compressing time for review, free play and sleep. The strain shows up in teen mental health snapshots. A separate CWLF survey found that more than one in five teenagers has experienced suicidal thoughts. Many students report sleep deprivation and irregular sleep schedules, and a sizable share say they feel reluctant to attend school two or three days per week.
Policy has begun to acknowledge the load. High school students are allowed to take mental health leave, a measure introduced last year. Yet most students say they do not know how it works, and those who have tried report obstacles from school staff or family members. When young people seek help, many turn to generative AI tools rather than formal services, a sign that accessible and stigma free support is still lacking.
One CWLF specialist put the concern plainly, pointing to the need for accessible help inside the school system and clearer rules.
Li Hung wen of the Child Welfare League Foundation said the reliance on AI highlights the lack of access to official resources. He urged the Ministry of Education to remove barriers for students seeking mental health leave.
Peers, free time and the weight of screens
Free time is closely tied to well being, yet many children in Taiwan say leisure is dominated by screens. A CWLF survey of grades five to nine shows that most students watch videos and play online games during the little leisure time they have. Exercise rates decline with age, and there is a clear gender gap, with boys more likely to be active. The data link regular physical activity with higher life satisfaction and more positive emotions. Long hours of gaming and passive scrolling correspond with lower satisfaction and greater fatigue. Many students, especially in junior high, report discomfort when they cannot use social media, a sign of rising dependency.
Digital risks are also rising. Daily social media use is the norm for 84.6 percent of teens, and 13.6 percent show signs of addiction. About 8.7 percent say they or classmates have shared or leaked sexual images. The growth of generative AI is shifting behavior. One in five students uses AI frequently, often without checking accuracy or protecting personal data. Only 39.4 percent say they verify AI content. Forty percent rarely avoid uploading personal details into AI systems. Few families discuss AI safety at home, and many schools still do not include practical AI literacy in classes. CWLF has proposed simple 5C actions for AI learning. Care for mental health, Connect through real world interaction, Check content and sources, Control privacy settings, and Challenge AI outputs with critical thinking.
Teachers still play a strong role. Students say that simple reminders from teachers help them exercise caution online. The organization is also urging authorities to update laws to protect children’s communication and privacy, create a dedicated online safety authority and require risk assessments by platforms popular with youth.
What responses are taking shape
The government plan to set up a Children and Families Administration under the health ministry is a key step. CWLF wants that shift to bring earlier prevention in mental health, stronger school counseling, and more accessible services in communities. The group has called for weekend sports days to rebuild exercise habits and for schools to increase physical education and create fun, inclusive sports competitions.
Service networks are expanding. CWLF runs free hotlines, community Youth+ centers and targeted programs for children facing emotional distress or trauma. Other groups in Taiwan offer text based counseling that meets teens where they are. Regional partners bring useful models. In Japan, programs that train gatekeepers and cultivate peer support online are being scaled. In Singapore, government backed campaigns combine outreach with high intensity support for youth at risk of suicide. Researchers in the United States are testing mindfulness practices tailored to adolescents to help them regulate emotions and reduce social media related anxiety.
CWLF framed the policy moment as an opportunity to align day to day support with children’s rights and needs.
CWLF said society should recognize the pressures on children and use the creation of the Child and Family Affairs Administration as an opportunity to strengthen early prevention and support for children’s mental health.
The organization also highlights a sobering context. In Taiwan, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 24, and the youth suicide rate has risen over the past decade. That reality adds urgency to addressing isolation, school stress, and digital risks together rather than in silos.
How families and schools can help now
Simple steps can help. Families can schedule regular outdoor time each weekend. Even short walks, bike rides or local sports can lift mood. Parents can set clear phone boundaries in the evenings and during meals. Creating off screen times signals that rest and conversation matter. At the same time, parents and teachers can teach the 5C approach to AI. Check content and sources, control privacy settings, and challenge uncertain outputs. That routine strengthens critical thinking and reduces confusion or panic during stressful study periods.
It helps to reduce unnecessary comparisons and reshape after school expectations. Not every evening needs a cram class. Children who come home earlier can sleep better, engage in hobbies and spend time with family. Schools can lower the stakes of classroom assessments and add more interactive learning, group presentations and peer support activities that build confidence. Encouraging regular exercise, especially for girls who are dropping activity at age 13, can make a clear difference in self worth and sleep quality.
Adults should watch for red flags. Persistent withdrawal from friends, major sleep changes, self harm or talk of being a burden are reasons to seek help. Students can reach counseling through national hotlines such as 1925 or 1995. School counseling offices and community youth centers offer guidance without judgment. Mental health leave policies exist for high school students. Schools and families can work together to make them easy to use when needed.
Key Points
- Life satisfaction rose to 72 in Taiwan, but remains below international averages, with 13 year old girls at 48.9.
- About 39 percent of children feel they would not be missed if they were gone, the highest level of alienation in three years.
- Only 27 percent see themselves as very healthy. Among 13 year old girls the share is about 16 percent.
- Exercise rates are low, and only 24.5 percent of 13 year old girls are regularly active.
- Classroom peer support is weak, with only 46.7 percent saying classmates are friendly or helpful.
- Academic stress appears early. 40.8 percent of 11 year old boys feel pressure, and girls’ stress rises to 46 percent by age 13.
- School satisfaction is low, with only 29.5 percent saying they really like school and about 10 percent among 13 year old girls.
- Screen heavy leisure and social media dependence are widespread, with rising online risks and low AI literacy.
- The government plans a Children and Families Administration, and CWLF urges earlier prevention and weekend family exercise.
- Help is available via hotlines 1925 and 1995, school counseling, and community youth services.
