The study titled “Family Experiences During the Cost-of-Living Crisis — Children’s Perspectives on the Impact on Well-Being” explores the economic challenges since 2020, characterized by rising energy and food costs and inflation pressures, exacerbated by the invasion of Ukraine.
Among a sample of 236 children, with an average age of about 15, from ten schools across five municipalities in the district of Coimbra, 83% were aware of the crisis, according to the study’s coordinator, Manuel Menezes.
“This contradicts claims that children are disengaged and have poor financial and economic literacy. Our study clearly showed that they have a high level of awareness and economic literacy,” he stated.
The majority of the children participating in the study, promoted by EAPN-Portugal (European Anti-Poverty Network), are Portuguese, but there are also children of other nationalities, such as Brazilian and French.
According to the coordinator, the group is “relatively privileged in terms of educational capital, social capital, and heritage,” but these characteristics “do not prevent the identification of certain signs of vulnerability that persist in specific segments.”
Manuel Menezes noted that “most do not report a reduction in expenses,” but there are some indications: 10.3% report difficulties in paying for energy, and 20.8% have delays in rent or mortgage payments.
“This lower representativeness of material impacts should not lead us to conclude that the impacts were not significant. It can also be interpreted as the resilience of families,” he said.
The sample also indicates a “generational anxiety,” with children showing significant concern for their future. “Over 50% of our children demonstrated this anxiety, fears about economic and financial issues, and fears of illness and death,” explained the coordinator, highlighting the importance of psychosocial support.
The research shows that children “aspire to financial stability,” but 18% prioritize their own and family health. Among the children, 13% are concerned about global issues, which indicates, according to the coordinator, “emotional and civic maturity.”
Manuel Menezes emphasizes that the study conveys that listening to children “is an ethical imperative” and “an essential tool that enriches the understanding of different social phenomena.”
“The way they perceive their well-being and that of their families is a barometer of the health and cohesion of our societies. We cannot underestimate this fact,” he pointed out.
