Happiness index shows Belgian teens lagging behind

According to the Better Life Index 2015 published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Belgian teens score below the European average when it comes to their general satisfaction with life. "The bar is set high in Belgium," writes Het Laatste Nieuws.

The study asked people in 34 countries to rate their lives based on a set of indicators such as employment, health and safety. For the first time there was a separate section about the well-being of children.

While Belgium scores above average when it comes to disposable income per child, the children are less satisfied with their lives than the average European youngster, according to the study. The quality of life of Belgian 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds is lower than that of Dutch, Spanish or Greek youth, for example.

The low ranking is due to the time that Belgian children spend with their parents (remarkably scarce by OECD standards), incidences of bullying (remarkably high according to OECD) and communication between adults and children (remarkably difficult, says OECD).