The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) recently released mental health findings from a nationally representative survey of girls ages 5 to 13. The results paint a picture of the loneliness epidemic in young girls, what girls are most worried about, and their views on screen time.
The vast majority of girls ages 5–13 experience loneliness—and the feeling intensifies with age. This is just one of the compelling findings from new research by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), the largest girl-serving organization in the world. The study reveals that as girls grow older, feelings of loneliness increase and, in turn, confidence decreases. But there’s encouraging news: the data also points to the power of friendship in boosting girls’ confidence to try new things.
Girl Scout programming, which emphasizes making friends in peer groups with caring and supportive adults, is more important today than ever. According to the latest findings from a recent GSUSA survey, completed in partnership with Wakefield Research, nearly 70% of girls ages 5–13 experience loneliness. These findings underscore the urgent need for interventions that foster meaningful connections and self-assurance among young girls. Key highlights from the research include:
- Loneliness Increases with Age: Survey results show that loneliness escalates as girls get older. 64% of girls ages 5–7, 67% of girls ages 8–10 and 73% of girls ages 11–13 reported feelings of loneliness.
- As Loneliness Grows, Confidence Drops: While 86% of girls ages 5–7 expressed belief in their ability to tackle challenges, this figure drops to 80% among girls ages 8–10 and to 73% among 11–13-year-old girls.
- Friendship Is a Confidence Booster: Companionship helps girls try things they wouldn’t otherwise do alone. For more than half of the girls surveyed, having a friend by their side encourages them to try new things (52%) like talk to a new kid (52%); 50% would join a new group with a friend.
- Girls Prefer Real Interactions to Screen Time: Most girls would prefer to be creative (63%), go outside and play (59%) or spend time with their family (59%) rather than spend all their time on screens. Despite the ubiquity of digital devices, these results point to girls’ desires for a range of authentic experiences and interpersonal connections.
“We know that there is a loneliness crisis among today’s girls and that the pandemic led to major disruptions in their sense of community, to strains on their mental health and to a great deal of social isolation and anxiety,” said Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of GSUSA. “This new data reveals that girls as young as 5 are feeling lonely and underscores the critical importance of girls fostering meaningful connections in their lives and building resilience. Parents and caregivers want their girls to have access to a broad array of activities that will boost their confidence, personal growth and connectedness with others—that is exactly what Girl Scouts provides.”
In collaboration with partners like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and National Council for Mental Wellbeing—and made possible by grants from many other organizations invested in mental wellness—GSUSA offers a suite of mental wellness resources and programming aimed at supporting girls, council staff, and adult volunteers.
“As we navigate the complexities of today's digital age, it's imperative to prioritize genuine connections and emotional well-being,” emphasized Dr. Christine Crawford, Associate Medical Director of NAMI. “These findings serve as a wake-up call, urging us to redouble our efforts in fostering supportive environments where girls feel empowered to express themselves and seek support.”
Girls of any age can join Girl Scouts to form lasting friendships and build self-confidence. In recent years, loneliness has been connected to overall mental health and well-being. To combat this, Girl Scouts’ current mental wellness programming includes:
- Resilient. Ready. Strong. Patch Program - Introduced in 2021 and available to girls in grades K–12, this patch program empowers girls to build their resilience and confront challenges with confidence.
- Mental Wellness 101 - Designed for troop leaders and adult volunteers, this training program equips participants with the knowledge and tools to promote mental wellness within the Girl Scout community.
- Mental Wellness Patch Program - Tailored for girls ages 9 to 17, this initiative provides practical tools to identify and address feelings while encouraging help-seeking behavior.
- Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) - Created for council staff, troop leaders and volunteers, YMHFA delivers vital information to better support youth mental wellbeing and address common mental health and substance use challenges.
- Making Friends - Designed for Brownies (girls ages 7–9), the Making Friends badge program teaches girls how to make introductions, show they care, and enjoy things together.
I had a chance to learn more in this interview.
- Why is it important to gather data regarding girls and mental health?
- We need to know how girls are feeling and how those feelings are changing over time. It’s important for Girl Scouts to know that as we develop programs and resources, but it’s also important for supportive adults in girls’ lives to know how they’re feeling, too, because it can shape the way we engage with them and how we care for them.
- What are some of the factors that the survey highlights that have a negative impact on girls' mental health?
- The survey revealed that girls as young as age five feel lonely. And, loneliness gets worse as girls get older. If not addressed, continued feelings of loneliness can lead to more isolation or even mental health issues.
- The survey also revealed that there’s power in friendships - having a friend by your side can boost girls’ confidence in trying new things, talk to a new kid, join a group.
- So, while the loneliness data is concerning, we know from the research (and from what we see and hear from Girl Scouts), that having a friend by your side can be really powerful.
- How can organizations like GSUSA foster connections and encourage achievements to boost mental health?
- Girl Scouts provides a safe space for girls to learn, grow, and explore new things within a community of peers and adult volunteers that foster supportive environments. In addition, we have programs around making friends, building relationships and a variety of programs to support mental health and wellness.
- Additionally, we have programs to support the adults in Girl Scouts - council staff, volunteers, troop leaders. Our programs give these adults the confidence and training they need to engage girls on important topics.
- Besides more general efforts to build skills, why is it important for organizations to have targeted mental health initiatives, like some of the current Girl Scout programming?
- People at every stage of life benefit from a better understanding of their own mental health, as well as how to support and be empathetic to those around us. The more we discuss and implement mental health initiatives, the more we destigmatize the topic and change mental health conversations from confusion and shame, to empowerment and support. While there’s still so much work to be done, talking, education and supporting mental health initiatives, especially at a young age, can help create that shift.
For more information about our programming and this data, or to sign up for Girl Scouts, visit girlscouts.org.
We are Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
Survey Methodology
The GSUSA survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (http://www.wakefieldresearch.
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