A NEW study of health and well-being among children in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales has found that childhood here is healthier and happier than in neighbouring countries.
Irish youths were more likely to exercise vigorously, to live with both parents and to be satisfied with their life in general.
Young people here did not drink alcohol as regularly as their counterparts, were less likely to be on a diet or to report feeling low.
The study, Young People's Health in Great Britain and Ireland, was co-authored by NUI Galway and conducted in 2006 in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.
It includes information from more than 20,000 children aged between 11 and 15 years, who were surveyed in schools.
A total of 4,480 Irish youths took part in the study, which examined issues such as health, wellbeing, eating patterns, physical activity, substance use, family and peer relationships and school life.
The survey found that 87.4 per cent of young Irish people were satisfied with their life, compared to 85.3 per cent in England, 84.2 per cent in Scotland and 81.2 per cent in Wales.
More than 88 per cent of Irish respondents said they had excellent or good health, which was considerably higher than in England (81.4 per cent), Scotland (79.5 per cent) and Wales (76.1 per cent).
The number who reported vigorous physical activity for two or more hours a week was highest in Ireland at 55.6 per cent.
The highest percentage that reported playing computer games for two or more hours a day was in Scotland (34.1 per cent), followed by Wales (30.9 per cent), England (26.4 per cent) and Ireland (18.0 per cent).
One of the authors of the report, Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn of the Health Promotion Research Centre, NUI Galway, said she was surprised at the consistency of the findings in favour of Irish youths.
“It is surprising that they are doing better than their UK counterparts in a whole range of areas, it’s not up on one thing and down on another,” she said. “We often look to the UK for the lead on various policies and this is a reversal. For a change they’re saying they need to learn from us.”
The survey found that 80.7 per cent of young people in Ireland lived with both parents, compared to 70.3 per cent in England, 67.7 per cent in Scotland and 65.7 per cent in Wales, a statistic Dr Nic Gabhainn considered significant. “A higher proportion of Irish children live with both parents and these were more likely to live in larger households and to have more siblings, which meant more social interaction.
“There was no difference in communications with mothers but Irish children are more likely to talk to their fathers about the things that bother them.”
The highest percentage of young people who had been drunk at least four times was found in Wales (14.1 per cent) and Scotland (14.0 per cent) followed by England (12.0 per cent) and Ireland (8.6 per cent).
Irish youths were the second least likely to smoke (6.5 per cent) and reported the second lowest rate of cannabis smoking.
The percentage of young people who were on a diet or doing something else to lose weight was highest in Wales (20.1 per cent) and lowest in Ireland (10.6 per cent), while some 22 per cent reported that they feel low at least once a week compared to over 30 per cent in England.
Irish participants did not answer questions about sexual health, as the general feeling was that parents would object and teachers might be reluctant, Dr Nic Gabhainn said.
Youths in Wales (35.6 per cent) reported the highest level of sexual activity, followed by Scotland (31.7 per cent) and England (28.8 per cent).
