More than half the young people in the State know someone in their age group who has committed or attempted suicide, according to The Irish Times/TNS mrbi youth poll, the third and final part of which is published today, writes Mark Brennock.
Some 42 per cent of young females say they are "always trying to lose weight" with more than half of them knowing someone with an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia.
According to the youth poll - the most comprehensive ever conducted in the State - 55 per cent of those aged 15 to 24 know someone in their age group who has committed or attempted suicide. Some 44 per cent do not and 1 per cent have no opinion. More females (60 per cent) than males (50 per cent) reported knowing someone who had committed or tried to commit suicide. The poll was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 young people aged 15 to 24 at 100 locations throughout all constituencies in the State.
It was carried out between August 20th and September 6th last, and respondents completed questions related to more personal issues in private.
Weight emerges overwhelmingly as a female issue with 42 per cent of females agreeing they were "always trying to lose weight". Some 57 per cent disagreed and 1 per cent gave no opinion.
This contrasts with the position among males where just 10 per cent agreed they were always trying to lose weight, 88 per cent disagreed and 1 per cent gave no opinion.
Some 44 per cent know someone with an eating disorder, 55 per cent do not and 1 per cent did not answer. Again this is much more common among females where 56 per cent know someone with an eating disorder, 42 per cent do not and 1 per cent did not answer. Among males 32 per cent know someone with an eating disorder, 67 per cent do not and 1 per cent did not answer.
The vast majority believe in God although most do not go to Mass. Some 86 per cent believe in God and 14 per cent do not. Religious belief is marginally stronger among females (88 per cent) than males (84 per cent).
Belief in God is strongest among those from farming backgrounds (95 per cent) compared to 86 per cent in the C2DE group and 84 per cent among the better off ABC1 category.
However, just 44 per cent go to Mass, 55 per cent do not and 1 per cent did not say. Just over half of young people distrust politicians because of recent tribunals, with distrust much higher among the older age groups. Some 57 per cent say politics has no relevance to them, 37 per cent disagree and 6 per cent have no opinion. However, the older age groups say politics is relevant to them, with 53 per cent believing it is, 43 per cent that it is not and 4 per cent having no opinion.
Despite the mistrust of politicians and high disregard for politics, 58 per cent of those of voting age are likely to vote in next year's local and European elections. Some 24 per cent are not and 17 per cent don't know.