Half a million children unhappy, says church-backed report The study published by the Children's Society following interviews with 30,000 under-16s claims those who have deeply negative feelings about their lives are at higher risk of bullying, depression and eating disorders. It says those who suffer instability, moving from one family member to another, are twice as likely to be unhappy although household structure itself was not as important as having loving relationships with relatives. Children who worry that they do not have the right clothes to "fit in" with classmates are three times as likely to be unhappy with the way they look, with the problem affecting girls more than boys. Those who received less pocket money than their peers reported lower levels of well-being, but so did those who were given a lot more cash, suggesting that children want to be similar to their friends more than they want to be rich. The Good Childhood Report calls on policy-makers to ensure children have the right conditions to grow, to develop positive relationships and to live in a safe area. Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, said: "The moral test for any society is how it treats its most vulnerable, including its children. The fact that at any one time half a million children are unhappy with their lives should be a wake-up call to us all. Policy makers and public alike will find clear information in this report about what causes our children to be unhappy with their lives. With such understanding comes the opportunity to make changes using the six priorities that The Children's Society has identified to make sure that every child has a good childhood. The research is an update on a landmark report published three years ago by the Children's Society, which warned that young people's lives are being blighted by Britain's selfish society.