A significant research published on Thursday reveals that today’s early teenagers are less inclined to consume alcohol or smoke compared to those from a decade ago. However, their risk of exhibiting depression symptoms has almost doubled, particularly amongst girls. The research utilised intel from Growing Up in Ireland (GUI), a longitudinal study which highlighted that nearly one in every ten 13-year-olds have attempted vaping, only 10 per cent had a romantic partner, and less than half of those bullied had reported it to an adult.
The study, known as Key Findings from the Self-Complete Survey with Cohort ‘08 at 13, included a comparison between data from a group of 6,000 13-year-olds, who were born in 2008, and a group born in 1998. The GUI study has been ongoing with two sets of children, born approximately a decade apart. This report primarily focuses on the families of Cohort ‘08, who had first been interviewed in 2008/2009 when the kid was only 9 months old. Following interviews were in-person when the child was 3 years, 5 years, and 9 years old. The outbreak of the Covid pandemic necessitated a switch from planned home interviews to remote surveys at age 13.
To diagnose depression symptoms, researchers used a tool referred to as the ‘Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire’. It was found that 31% of 13-year-olds, born in 2008, are “at risk” of depression. On the other hand, only 16% of the 1998 Cohort were found to be “at risk”. The report underscores this as an evidence of a rising upwards trend in depression symptoms, particularly in girls.
Girls have double the risk of being “at risk” (45%) compared to boys (19%), with higher rates also found within single-parent homes (42%) as opposed to two-parent homes (29%). Depression risks weren’t confined to the teenagers alone. Also, it was found that mothers (15%) were more probable of being “at risk of depression” than fathers (7%). The vulnerabilities were notably higher for single mothers and/or those within the lowest income quintile, in contrast to those in better-off, two-parent households.
The research revealed that nearly 10% of 13-year-olds had reported experiencing bullying within the last quarter year, a rate that appears consistent in older groups too. Youngsters coming from underprivileged backgrounds were more susceptible to these incidents. About 34% had felt intentionally ignored or ostracised, while 33% suffered derogatory name-calling or hurtful remarks, and 30% faced physical bullying like shoving or slapping.
It was found that boys were more likely to report not being affected by the bullying at all, with 53% compared to 24% of girls. Conversely, girls were more likely to report being heavily affected by such encounters with 23% compared to boys at 8%.
When it comes to reporting, less than half 46% of these 13-year-olds confided in an adult about their distressing experiences.
On a brighter note, healthier habits were observed among the 2008 group of 13-year-olds. Merely 10% of them had tried alcohol, showing a decrease from the 16% recorded ten years ago. Contrasting prior trends, girls were now the ones more prone to experiment with alcohol over boys. Cigarette and tobacco usage rates fell drastically to 3% and vaping came to notice with 9% having tried it. This was a new statistic, as this option wasn’t available a decade ago. Here, girls were likelier than boys by a 10% to 7% margin.
Regarding physical health, almost 30% of 13-year-olds from low-income families were identified as overweight or obese, showing a higher rate than their high-income counterparts at 20%.
When it came to discussing sex and relationship topics, 55% from the ’08 group communicated with a parent. Girls at 59% were more likely to engage in such conversations than boys at 52%. This figure had increased from 46% among the ’98 group.
In a bid to seek advice or information about sex or relationships, 37% said they’d approach their mother first, followed by friends at 17%, the Internet at 13%, with 8% either choosing not to seek advice or turning to their father, 7% would contact their teachers and 6% would talk to a sibling.
/”Over 75% of 13-year-olds reported having an excellent relationship with the parent or guardian who primarily took care of them, with a mere 1% expressing dissatisfaction with their main caregiver.
An estimated 20% of the youngsters indicated that one of their biological parents resided in a different location, revealing a wide array of communication patterns with their non-residential parent. While a little over a fifth met up with them ‘more than once a week’, around 34% reported not seeing them in person at all. Approximately a third had no contact whatsoever.
When questioned about what they were excited about in terms of adulthood, 32% cited ‘visiting various countries’. This was closely followed by ‘establishing my own home’ with 18%, and ‘securing a job’ with 16%.
Reacting to the findings, the Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman, highlighted the importance of the research, stating, ‘This data gives us a current understanding of the obstacles teenagers face today. It directs us towards the areas which we, as a government, must emphasise, to best assist our young people in achieving their ultimate potential and leading wholesome, joyous lives.’ “/