Psychology is the scientific study of mental and behavioural processes. Nowadays, we’ve come to respect trends and analyses in the field more than ever. As researchers constantly make innovative discoveries, it’s best to stay updated.
Psychology statistics show and interpret data in a more organised and comprehensive way. Currently, the demand for professional assistance is rising, and several fields are growing rapidly.
Keep reading to find all you need to know about the growth and career opportunities in psychology and the latest methods and trends.
Statistics in Psychology (Editor’s Choice)
- The UK had over 32,000 employed psychologists in 2020.
- Nearly 80% of UK clinical psychologists are female.
- The number of self-help apps globally is between 10,000 and 20,000.
- 54% of the UK population suffers from increased anxiety due to the pandemic.
- The number of psychology graduates of colour rose to 38% in the last decade.
- Employment in all psychology fields will increase by 19% by 2024.
- 35% of athletes experience mental health issues.
- 25% of the UK society will suffer from mental health issues due to their workplace.
New Trends in Psychology
Psychology is a booming field worldwide, as people are focusing more and more on their well-being. Mental health issues are no longer taboo, and professionals are in great demand. Let’s take a look at the current state and new developments in psychology.
1. In 2020, the UK had 32,300 certified psychologists in employment.
(Statista)
Statistics on psychology show that 26% of the UK population has been diagnosed with psychiatric conditions requiring professional assistance.
Most notable, 33% of people between 45 and 54 years struggle with mental health issues. Furthermore, 13% of young adults have a mental disorder that requires the attention of a psychologist.
2. Current employment trends in psychology project that opportunities in all fields will grow by 19% by 2024.
(APA)
The growth in employment opportunities will result from the increased interest in studying psychology. For comparison, in that period, the psychiatry field is predicted to grow by 15%, and social work by 12%. Generally, the estimation for other professions is only a 7% rise.
3. The number of self-help mental health apps has reached between 10,000 and 20,000.
(APA)
Future trends in psychology expect that self-help apps will lead more people to therapy. Psychologists encourage these apps because they help patients reflect on their problems rather than avoid them.
Calm and Headspace account for 90% of self-help app use and may inspire people to reach out to a professional psychologist.
4. Psychology statistics reveal that the percentage of psychology graduates of colour rose from 29% to 38% in the last decade.
(APA)
Universities prioritise racial diversity when admitting new students to their psychology programmes. Currently, 31% of doctoral degrees are awarded to racial and ethnic minorities.
However, only 18% of associate professors and 12% of full professors in psychology departments identify as people of colour.
5. Sports psychology statistics show that up to 35% of athletes suffer from a mental health crisis.
(Athletes for Hope)
Professional athletes often suffer mental health problems, as sports might bring not only benefit to the participants but also stress. They predominantly suffer from eating disorders, alcohol abuse, and in worst cases, suicide.
Psychology Trends During the Pandemic
People’s struggle with the adverse effects that the pandemic has impacted the psychology field. The lockdown measures have directly influenced the relationship professionals have with their clients and have brought up new mental health issues.
6. 45% of mental health professionals observed a decrease in patients attending routine appointments during the pandemic.
(BBC)
Psychology research statistics showed that almost half of regularly attending patients had skipped their appointments during the lockdown. Professionals expect a significant rise in the number of people seeking help after the pandemic.
7. Trends in psychology research show over 54% of the UK adult population feel more anxious because of the pandemic.
(Mental Health Foundation)
66% of all adults questioned who experienced increased anxiety during the pandemic are female. Furthermore, the same applies to 66% of full-time students, 60% of unemployed people, and 69% of those who already suffer from a mental health condition.
8. Psychology stats show 50% of people aged 16 to 24 experienced “lockdown loneliness” during the pandemic.
(Mental Health Foundation)
Half of the young adults reported feeling especially lonely during the lockdown. Research suggests that it’s due to the loss of peer group support when the interaction is crucial for self-concept construction, brain development, and mental health.
Current Trends in Industrial Psychology
Industrial psychology focuses on ensuring efficient labour and solving workplace issues. Its role is to apply appropriate methods to critical business concerns, such as talent management and assessment, employee training and coaching, and much more.
Globalisation, internet recruitment, innovation, and technology-enabled training characterise the 21st century. So, let’s have a look at some of the latest trends in industrial psychology.
9. Psychology employment statistics show that the industrial-organisational field will grow by 13% by 2028.
(VeryWellMind)
Industrial-organisational psychologists deal with interactions in the workplace, including between employees and management. Currently, it’s among the fastest-growing branches of psychology.
Professionals in the field can also teach in schools, colleges, and universities about labour relations, unions, or organisational structures.
10. One in four people in the UK will experience mental health problems in the workplace at some point in their career.
(CIPD)
The workplace environment and conditions can have a severe impact on mental health. The application of statistics in psychology can help understand how strongly someone’s mental state can affect their work performance.
Such issues lead to absence from work, decreased productivity and turnover that costs businesses in the UK billions every year when professionals do not address it.
11. Employment opportunities for industrial psychologists will grow by 19% in the US non-health service by 2024.
(APA)
The role of industrial and organisational psychologists is to analyse businesses and employees to improve the workplace environment. Psychology statistics show it’s in increasing demand and one of the fastest-growing fields.
However, besides this positive trend, professionals should expect more competition due to the significant increase in qualified staff.
Clinical Psychology Statistics
Clinical psychology focuses on the intellectual, emotional, biological, social, and behavioural aspects of a person’s life. Its purpose is to understand, prevent, and alleviate distress or dysfunction and promote individual well-being and development.
Psychologists employed in this field are experts in treating various disorders. Furthermore, the job often involves research, training, forensic data, and other areas of expertise. Let’s have a look at some of the most recent statistics in clinical psychology.
12. 51% of psychology students in the UK are oriented towards a career in the clinical psychology field.
(Nuffieldtrust)
Statistics show that over half of UK psychology students focus on clinical studies. The field offers a vast choice of areas to specialise in, including adult or child and family mental health, learning disabilities, neuropsychology, geriatric mental health, and others.
13. According to the latest statistics about psychology, women make up nearly 80% of clinical professionals in the UK.
(The British Psychological Society)
Evidently, women are more interested in studying psychology than men, as 80% of the undergraduate students are female. That results in difficulties for patients who are more comfortable speaking to a male professional.
Recent Trends in Educational Psychology
Educational psychology deals with the scientific study of human learning. This branch incorporates a variety of disciplines, including developmental, behavioural, and cognitive psychology.
Psychologists in this field find ways to identify students who need extra help, design programs to help them and create innovative learning methods. Let’s have a look at some of the new trends.
14. Trends in educational psychology in the US reveal a national ratio of one professional per 1,211 students.
(NASP)
NASP recommends having one educational psychologist per 500 students, however, that’s hardly the case in the US. Currently, one professional takes care of almost 2.5 times more students than that.
Furthermore, in some cases, the ratio reaches one per 5,000, signifying a strong necessity for more psychologists in the field.
15. Statistics for psychology students show that The Educational Psychology Funded Training provides placement for 203 trainees.
(AEP)
The need for good educational psychologists is growing continuously. Consequently, to encourage young students and to meet the demand for professionals, the EPFT provides funding and placement for 203 students in the field.
Current Trends in Psychology — Conclusion
Currently, people worldwide are going through difficult times, facing inequality, the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues, stress, unemployment and other worries. We cannot avoid these stressors, but we could use the help of professionals in any branch of psychology.
Mental health doctors can offer their insight and aid us in communication, decision making, stress management, and other issues. Statistics show a lot of demand and competition in the psychology field that will continue for the foreseeable future.
FAQ
What are the latest trends in psychology?
The newest trends show that psychologists’ role is crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For example, changes in education forced by the lockdown measures have stressed the importance of good self-management and social-emotional learning in the classroom. Educational psychologists believe that this will contribute to lasting improvements in schools.
Another significant trend is that employees are experiencing burnout due to the disrupted work-life balance, requiring the help of organisational psychologists.
How is statistics used in psychology?
Psychologists use statistics to give precise measures of how significant a phenomenon is. Analysing and displaying the data lets researchers find patterns, make claims, and share their results with other people comprehensively.
The data portrayed in graphs, frequency distributions, scatterplots and pie charts allows researchers to have a better overview and spot patterns.
What is meant by statistics in psychology?
Statistics is a branch of mathematics dedicated to collecting, arranging, displaying and interpreting numerical data. That allows psychologists to study and manipulate data and review and analyse it to draw conclusions.
The use of statistics in psychology helps professionals when conducting research. In psychology, there are two types of statistics, descriptive and inferential, used for different purposes.
Who introduced statistics in psychology?
There have been basic forms of statistics since the beginning of civilisation. However, in 1662, John Graunt and William Petty developed the early human statistical methods, which later served as a bedrock for modern demography.
The first person in Europe to introduce statistics in psychology was Carl Friedrich Gauss. Nowadays, researchers collect the data and distribute it to governments, businesses, science and sports centres, etc.
What is the best field in psychology?
The need for good psychologists is rising, so young people are interested in education in the field. For students, choosing a career path in psychology may seem challenging, as it requires much patience and hard work. According to recent psychology statistics, clinical, industrial and forensic psychologists are among the best and most profitable professions. The same applies to social workers, substance abuse, behavioural disorder, and mental health counsellors.
Sources: AEP, APA, APA, APA, Athletes for Hope, BBC, CIPD, Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Foundation, NASP, Nuffieldtrust, Statista, The British Psychological, Society, VeryWellMind