Irish teens drinking and smoking less — but mental health concerns continue to rise
Teenagers in Ireland are smoking and drinking less than their peers did in 1998, but are struggling more with their mental health, according to an in-depth new report.
More than 8,000 pupils from 191 schools — including fifth and sixth class in primary schools and up to fifth year in secondary — took part in the study.
They answered questions about their mental health, diet, smoking and drinking habits, sexual behaviour, and relationships with parents.
The report, titled Trends in Health Behaviours, Outcomes and Contexts: 1998–2022, has been conducted regularly since the late 1990s.
It found a significant increase in the number of children who reported feeling low once a week or more over the previous six months.
Other findings include a notable decline in tobacco use among children, as well as a drop in the number who reported having been drunk or having used cannabis in the past year.
There was also a decrease in the proportion of young people aged 15–17 who said they had their first alcoholic drink at age 13 or younger.
However, the study also identified a slight increase in the number of children trying to lose weight, either through dieting or other methods.
Poverty was a recurring issue, highlighted by several indicators.
Overall, 18.3% of children aged 10–17 reported going to school or bed hungry because there was not enough food at home—a slight increase from 2002, and more prevalent among girls.
The rise in food insecurity was most noticeable among younger children and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
In 2022, fewer children reported spending evenings out with friends—just 28%, compared to 38% in 1998. This decline was more pronounced in lower-income groups.
The number of children drinking soft drinks daily dropped sharply from 37.4% in 2002 to just 6.6% in 2022.
Daily fruit consumption remained largely unchanged, while the percentage of children engaging in vigorous exercise declined slightly, from 52.6% to 50.3%.
There was also a small decrease in the proportion of 15–17 year olds who reported having had sexual intercourse.
However, condom use among this group dropped significantly, from 78% in 2010 to just 58% in 2022.
The study was launched on Wednesday by Minister of State at the Department of Health, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor.
She welcomed the report, saying it provides 'vital information regarding the health of our children, highlighting both positive trends, such as the reductions in tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use since 1998, but also the more concerning ones, such as many of the indicators relating to mental health and the pressures of schoolwork.'
The research was led by Louise Lunney, in collaboration with the HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) research team at the Health Promotion Research Centre at the University of Galway.
Professor Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, Principal Investigator at the Centre, said over 70,000 children have participated in the surveys since 1998.
'While many indicators have improved over time, the pressures that children feel from school and society are increasing,' she warned.
'Now is the time for our society to support teachers and parents in schools and communities to protect and promote youth well-being.'
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