by Colleen Reid, Mindful Mum, 3rd January 2012

The study, undertaken by the Princes Trust, found that four in 10 pupils who failed to achieve at least five C grades in their GCSE’s did not have a set bedtime routine at home.

Of the 2,136 16-25 year olds questioned in the survey, just a quarter say they had a set bedtime throughout childhood.

Students with lower school grades than their more successful peers were also twice as likely not to have set meal times with their family.

The report goes someway in showing the importance of a structured family upbringing on success and education. Youngsters who claim they lacked a structured childhood are also less confident than their peers.

One in three depressed or rejected

Of those questioned, a third of those with lower grades (33%) said they “always” or “often” felt rejected and depressed according to the survey.

The data was collected from the Prince of Wales’s youth charity’s annual youth index which assesses how young people feel about various aspects of their life.

Princes Trust chief executive Martina Milburn said, “The absence of structure and routine in a young life can have a devastating impact.

“Without the right support, directionless teenagers can become lost young adults – unconfident, underqualified and unemployed.”

Source: Princes Trust Youth Index

Photography: Summer @Flickr