Young People into 2007
Twenty one years of Young People reports
What the media said:
Sunday Times drinking
BBC weapons etc.
Daily Mail
diet
Daily Telegraph drinking
Independent drinking
Daily Mirror diet and bullying etc.
NetDoctor.co.uk diet
A unique contemporary archive of young people from the Schools Health Education unit. This report has over 100 health-related behaviour questions and answers from
68,495 youngsters between the ages of 10 and 15. They tell us about what they do at home, at school, and with their friends. The data have been collected from 787 primary and secondary schools across the United Kingdom.
David Regis, Research Manager of the Schools Health Education Unit, says,
"This twenty-first report since 1986 adds to our picture of young people in our country. There are new questions reflecting their changing lives and some new angles on some old problems. This year we are publishing new data on bullying, sources of information, peer pressure and sleep habits."
"The surveys that give rise to the data are large, numerous, and from many parts of the United Kingdom, but they do not form a deliberately-selected sample. Despite this difference, the picture produced by our annual data set typically matches survey outcomes from other data-collection agencies using orthodox strategies such as stratified random sampling. In this year's report, we present new and exciting evidence from OFSTED that our school sample is reasonably matched to the population of all schools in England."
Summary
SECTION 1 - Food choices & weight control
- 20% of all males and 12% of all females were 'overweight' according to BMI formulae. 57% of 14-15 year old females and 53% of 12-13 year old females ‘would like to lose weight’. This compares with 28% of 14-15 year old males and 35% of 12-13 year old males who ‘would like to lose weight’
- 27% of Year 10 females have ‘nothing at all to eat for breakfast this morning’ and, of that proportion, 25% had nothing for lunch on the previous day
- Less fresh fruit but more vegetables are eaten as pupils get older and up to 23% report eating 3 portions of fruit and vegetables ‘yesterday’
- Up to 64% drank less than 1 litre of water ‘yesterday’
- Up to 23% of the 12-15 year old females, reported feeling 'quite uneasy' or 'very uneasy' on their last visit to the doctor
- Around 28% of males and 51% of 14-15 year old females report taking painkillers on at least one day during the previous week
- 26% of 12-13 year old females feel afraid (at least 'sometimes') of going to school because of bullying. 22% of 14-15 year old males keep bullying problems ‘to themselves’
- 18% of the 14-15 year old males were 'fairly sure' or 'certain' that their friends carried weapons for protection when going out
- Up to 66% live with both parents - a drop of around 10% since 1990 (page 36 - 44kb pdf)
- Up to 47% of the sample walk at least some of the way to school
- More females than males did homework on the evening before the survey, and they tended to spend longer at it. Around 37% of the 12-15 year old males did no homework at all
- Up to 16% of males spent more than 3 hours on computer games after school ‘yesterday’ and 79% of 14-15 year old males browse the Internet without adult supervision
- 44% of 10-11 year old females 'read a book for enjoyment' as an after-school activity compared with 22% of 14-15 year old females
- Since 1996 there is a general decline in 14-15 year olds who smoke regularly. 90% of 10-11 year olds say they have never smoked. This figure drops to 53% (males) and 44% (females) by the time they are 14-15 years old. 20% of 14-15 year old females smoked ‘in the last 7 days’. The majority of current smokers say they would like to stop. At least 43% of 12-15 year olds live in a 'smoky' home
- Up to 54% of the 14-15 year olds are ‘fairly sure' or ’certain' that they know a drug user. Up to 14% of 14-15 year olds have mixed drugs and alcohol 'on the same occasion'
- 23% of 14-15 year old females, (page 60 - 44kb pdf) compared with 20% of the same age males, got drunk ‘during the last 7 days’
- The percentage of young people with a regular job rises from around 27% (12-13 years) to up to 40% (14-15 years). Up to 29% of 14-15 year olds reported receiving more than £10 in pocket money ‘last time’. More males than females save money
- Over 90% of the sample report exercising at least once 'last week'
- 61% of 10-11 year old females think they are ‘fit’ or ‘very fit’. This falls to 30% by the time they reach 14-15 years of age
- From 1991 there is an upward trend (10%-22%) of 14-15 year old females that report being unfit.
- ‘The way you look’ remain the principal worry (49%-54%) for females aged 12-15 years
- Up to 32% of 10-11 year olds worry about 'family problems'
- The greatest concern for 14-15 year old males are ‘school work problems’ and ‘the way you look’
- 63% of 14-15 year old females, compared with 51% of 14-15 year old males, want to continue with full-time education
- Up to 54% of 14-15 year olds don’t know about local birth control services for young people
- Up to33% of 10-11 year olds (which has been consistent for a number of years) report that they have been scared or upset by an adult stranger
- 26% of 10-11 year old females think they have been picked on or bullied because of the way they look.
Angela Balding, Survey Manager at the Schools Health Education Unit, says,
"An important dimension of this report is to be able to see at the same time the behaviours from both primary and secondary school. These charts should dispel the illusion that all is innocence in the primary school, but also give some heart to those that work with older children – there is a lot of good news here."Notes for Editors
"We know that the transition between primary and secondary school is a big jump for young people to make. There are some huge differences between the two age groups that appear in a very few years – like in the proportion of females who skip breakfast and who miss out physical activities. We also suspect those young people who do make a poor start at secondary school will be among those that show an increase in health-risky behaviours. Can the healthy food choices we are seeing in the primary sector be maintained as they move into secondary school settings ."
- SHEU is an independent research, survey and publishing company and the 'Young People into 2007' report is the 21st in the series and based on the work of one of its divisions - The Schools Health Education Unit. The Unit provides reliable baseline data for local needs assessment to inform plans in health, education and care.
- The accumulated data from the hundreds of school surveys we support each year, involving tens of thousands of young people, is a valuable resource of information and provides many opportunities for research. We caution against simple reporting and interpretation of our databanks as being from 'a national survey'. In this year's report, we present new and exciting evidence from OFSTED that our school sample is reasonably matched to the population of all schools in England.
Comments below have been made by:
DR = Dr. David Regis, Research Manager
AB = Angela Balding, Survey Manager
Section 1: Food choices & weight control [Top]
 |
"The figures that have always attracted most attention here have been those related to the very high proportion of girls who want to lose weight – nearly 60% in Year 10 this year. We have been able to relate this desire to low self-esteem and general anxiety about their appearance. In their behaviour, we find these female pupils who want to lose weight are more likely to skip breakfast or lunch, and to eat a calorie-conscious diet – but it's certain that most of these young women do not need to lose weight." "We would like to add our voice to those who wish to see a much greater variety of body shapes presented positively in print and other media." Dr. David Regis, Research Manager. |
Breakfast
"We know some pupils eat nothing at home but may buy something at or on the way to school. We have changed the way we ask our questions accordingly." – DR
Lunch
Breakfast & Lunch
"We expect that at least some meal-skipping is done because they want to lose weight or avoid putting it on – but this can't be the best way of achieving those goals." – DR
Healthy eating
"Are these boys fed up with dietary advice or just think it's a girls' thing? It’s often said that advice about diet is often contradictory and changing, but we don't think the core advice – to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables – has altered at all for decades." – DR
Weight
"We don't want to be complacent about the real problems of obesity, but far more young people are unhappy with their weight than there is any medical need to be." – DR
Food choices
(The following comments apply to dietary items consumed 'on most days'.)
"It will be interesting to see if initiatives on 5-a-day and drinking water show an effect in our figures, or if they have already had all the effect they are going to." – DR
Section 2: Doctor & Dentist [Top]
“We know that amongst adults there are wide variations in how much we get out of the health service – and some of that has to do with our own attitudes. We can see differences in attitudes emerging in young people in how confident they are with a doctor".
"Some of our earlier work showed that females are more confident if they see a female GP, while boys are more confident if their GP is ... female. We expect that this is still true." – Dr. David Regis, Research Manager
Going to the doctor
"Young people have more places to go than just their GP, but the GP remains a key point of contact. Both the doctor and the young patient need to get the most out of their encounters." – DR
Confidence with the doctor
Up to 23% of the 12-15 year old females, reported feeling 'quite uneasy' or 'very uneasy' on their last visit to the doctor. In previous years we have reported that those young people who say they were at ease with their GP on their last visit were also likely to have visited the GP more recently. (p.17)
"From other work, we know that sometimes young people go to a doctor thinking that they will talk about something – and then somehow not mentioning it. Do young people need some coaching about how to make the best of their encounters with health professionals?" – DR
Toothbrushing
More than 76% of the males and at least 85% of the females brushed their teeth at least twice a day. Up to 22% of 14-15 year-old males brushed only once. (p.18)
"Young people have got better and better at toothbrushing. There's still a way to go to reduce tooth decay, however, and here, flossing can help." – DR
Going to the dentist
Over 80% reported visiting the dentist in the previous six months. (p.19)
"The shortage of NHS dentistry has not shown an impact in our figures for young people." – DR
Section 3: Health & Safety [Top]
"We continue to see high attention to personal hygiene among most young people.”Asthma
“The willingness of some of them to self-medicate must be a reassurance to the pharmaceutical industry." Dr. David Regis, Research Manager.
Up to 19% of the 10 – 15 year olds report having asthma. A connection is shown between general levels of worry and asthma and its symptoms. (p.23)
"We are always curious about the proportion who say they don't know if they have asthma. We do know there is a proportion of undiagnosed asthma, which, if identified, could be supported with medication and perhaps lead to a higher quality of life." – DR
Sleep
Around 33% report having between 8-9 hours sleep ‘last night’
Up to 63% say they get enough sleep for their health - this drops to 46% of 14-15 year old females
Up to 71% say they have enough sleep to stay alert and concentrate at school – this drops to 60% for 14-15 year old females. (p.24-26)
"These figures about sleep are new to us but I can say immediately that I'm not at ease with what young people are telling us – I'd want many more to be confident that they were getting enough sleep." – DR
Medication
51% of the 14-15 year old females report taking painkillers on at least one day during the previous week. Assuming they all cannot be suffering from period pains during the week before the survey it is worth noting that 30% of the 14-15 year old males also report taking painkillers
38% of 12-13 year old females and 25% of 12-13 year old males said they took painkillers 'at least one day in the last week'. (p.27)
"We always think that these levels of pill-popping are high. I'm happy to take a painkiller when I hurt, but why are these young people so often in need of painkillers?" – DR
‘Wheezers’
Around 57% of females report ‘wheezing' and have trouble breathing (not just out of breath) when they run. (p.28)
"We can link wheezing with reports of taking asthma medication, and it seems there are wheezy young people who are not using such medication – perhaps because they prefer not to, but they may not have been diagnosed as needing it." – DR
Safety outside after dark and during the day
Up to 25% of the sample felt that safety after dark was ’poor' or ’very poor' in their neighbourhood, with females feeling more apprehensive after dark. (p.29)
"We are often told that the fear of crime is greater than the risk of crime, but we also have evidence about the number of young people who have been the victim of violence or aggression." – DR
Carrying weapons
18% of 14-15 year old males are 'fairly sure' or 'certain' that friends carry weapons for protection when going out. (p.30)
"We have linked young people's carrying of weapons with other aspects of their lifestyle – for example, having money to go out." – DR
Bullying and being bullied
34% of the 10-11 year old females have a fear of bullying
Up to 26% report being bullied at school in the last 12 months
Playtime and lunchtime can cause anxiety for up to 14% of 10-11 year olds and, 26% of females felt picked on for 'the way they looked'. (p.120-122)
"It's not always what is done that makes bullying so damaging – it's the pattern and purpose." – DR
"Over a third of the 12-13 year old girls have had fears about going to school because of bullying. Any such fear must have a disabling effect and undermine performance." – Angela Balding, Survey Manager.
Up to 10% of older males say they bullied someone at school ‘last year’(p.31-32)
"This year we publish new figures about young people's experience of bullying, linked to the outcomes of the Every Child Matters initiative."
"Bullying must reduce the quality of these young people's lives. We have been able to link this fear of bullying with lower self-esteem and feelings of control."
“We don’t define bullying in terms of particular behaviours – it is more to do with the pattern and purpose of a behaviour. We were pleased this year to be able to support Stonewall’s research into homophobic bullying – although some of the findings were very sobering.” – DR
Accidents
During the previous year, up to 40% of the males had an accident that needed treatment from a doctor or at a hospital
Of those 14-15 year old males who had an accident, they are more likely to report smoking (15%), drinking (46%) and using illegal drugs (21%) ‘in the last week’. (p.33)
"Taking risks is part of life and can be exciting – so how do you take risks safely?" – DR
Sunburn
Section 4: Family & Home [Top]
 |
"The home is such an important feature of young people's health careers. We have seen this year some interesting if not surprising differences between the health behaviours of young people from different ethnic groups. "Computers and the Internet are no less popular in this year's compilation, and may be starting to squeeze out broadcast TV. TV tends to get a bad press when compared with reading, but there's no doubt that the best TV is better than the worst books." – Dr. David Regis, Research Manager. |
"We have rarely tried to look for differences between children from different types of family; we expect that the differences are there, but we don't know if they would be useful to find." – DR
School journey
Up to 28% go by car and about 20% go by school bus
Over 50% of the sample have two or more cars in their family. (p.40-41)
"Is the danger presented by the many cars on the 'school run' one of the reasons that parents and children think it best to go to school in a car?" – DR
Television
At least 86% watched some TV during the evening prior to the survey. Up to 16% watched TV for more than 3 hours and 14% or fewer did not watch at all. (p.42)
"TV can be a social and an educational resource. We have been collecting information from an Internet survey about who controls TV watching, and know that many young people have their own TV in their bedroom." – DR
Homework
More females than males did homework on the evening before the survey, and they tended to spend longer at it. 38% of the 14-15 year old males did no homework. (p.43)
"We know schools make good use of these figures, of course. We are always struck by gender differences; do boys get set less homework, or so they save it all up and do it in a bunch?" – DR
Computer games
Up to 76% of the males, compared with up to at least 43% of the females, spent some time playing computer games on the previous evening. (p.44)
"Parents may have more concern and less understanding about their children's use of computers than of TV." – DR
Internet
79% of 14–15 year old males 'browse' without adult supervision. Since 2000 we have seen a rise in the percentages of young people that report browsing the Internet without adult supervision.(p.45)
"The best of the Internet is superb, but we also recognise the risks." – DR
Evening activities
The most common evening activity of all, between 71%-80%, is television watching
Other popular activities: (for 10-15 year old males) playing computer games and playing sport
Other popular activities: (for 10-15 year old females) reading a book and caring for pets (for 12-13 year old females)
The fall in percentage of 'readers' between 10-15 years of age implies a decline in the importance of books in the lives of children as they grow older e.g.44% of 10-11 year old females 'read for enjoyment' compared with 22% of 14-15 year old females. (p.46)
"We also see young people acting in the family as carers and in their communities as volunteers." – DR
Section 5: Legal & Illegal Drugs [Top]
"Most young people don't smoke, or use drugs, and those that drink usually do so in moderation. It's very easy to focus only on the behaviour of those few young people who use illegal drugs or who drink to excess."
"After a peak in the middle 1990s and then a drop, drug use among these young people seems to have settled down. The most common drug they have tried is cannabis; we have seen no sign that the reclassification of cannabis has resulted in its greater use by young people. This is a very important 'negative' finding."-- Dr. David Regis, Research Manager.
Experience of alcohol
Up to 10% [8%] of 10-11 year olds, up to 19% of the 12 -13 year olds, and up to 37% of the 14-15 year olds had consumed at least one of the listed alcoholic drinks during the previous week. (p.51)"This pattern of increasing experience with age is expected, but are we happy with the levels seen?" – DR
Beer or lager
26% of the males and 10% of the females, aged 14-15, drank at least one pint of beer or lager during the previous week
Figures suggest that fewer are drinking but 'drinkers' are drinking more. (p.53)
Wines and Spirits
Since 1996, the data shows that older females ‘overtook' the males as spirit-drinkers and in 2006, 18% of 14-15 year old females, reported drinking one or more spirit measures in the past week. (p.58, 59 & 61)
Alcohol units
14% of 14-15 year olds males drank more than 10 units of alcohol 'in the previous week' and 9% of 14-15 year old males drank on 3 days or more 'last week'
23% of 14-15 year old females, (page 60 - 44kb pdf) compared with 20% of the same age males, got drunk ‘during the last 7 days’. (p. 59-60)
"It's not easy to set guidelines for young people, but we guess that they be a lot lower than we advise for adults." – DR
Obtaining alcohol
The off-licence remains the most important source of purchased alcohol, especially for the 14-15 year olds, followed by the supermarket. (p.61)
"This is of course illegal, but they still keep telling us they are able to make such purchases . All the cigarettes, alcohol and drugs used by young people are ultimately obtained from adults." – DR
Drinking at home
Most ‘drinkers' drank at home and substantial numbers of 14 -15 year olds used other venues
Since 1991, 14-15 year olds consistently report drinking in a friend's/relation's home. Although drinking in their own home is a more popular venue, the percentages decline since 1991
Of those who do drink at home, up to 38% do so with their parents always knowing about it. (p.62-63)
"We published a report many years ago entitled 'We teach them how to drink!' and clearly we still do... What's not so clear is whether messages about safety are being accepted and retained into early adulthood ." – DR
Smoking levels
20% of the 14-15 year old females and 13% of the 14-15 year old males smoked at least one cigarette during the previous week
11% of the older female smokers report smoking up to 25 cigarettes a week. (p.64).
"There may be as many reasons for smoking as there are young smokers – it's wrong to say they're all doing it just because they think they look cool ." – DR
Sources of cigarettes
11% of the 14-15 year old females were able to buy cigarettes from a shop and 7% of the same group were supplied by friends. (p.65)
"The cigarettes that end up in the hands of young people always start in the hands of adults ." – DR
Attitude to smoking
90% of 10-11 year olds say they have never smoked. This figure drops to 53% (males) and 44% (females) by the time they are 14-15 years old
The majority of current smokers say they would like to stop
Since 1996 there is a general decline in 14-15 year olds who smoke regularly. (p. 66)
"Are we doing enough to support the majority of young smokers who say they want to give up? Or do we not really believe them?" – DR
Smoking contacts
At least 43% of all pupils live in a 'smoky' home. (p.67)
Drug safety
The older they get pupils think that drugs are ‘always unsafe', except cannabis, which is considered to be ‘always unsafe' by a smaller percentage of the older groups. (p.68)
"Cannabis is seen quite differently by young people, compared with other drugs. Experience may tell them it’s safe, and any messages we give them about its dangers need to take their beliefs and experiences into account." – DR
Drug users
Up to 54% of the 14-15 year olds are ‘fairly sure' or ‘certain' that they know a drug user. (p.69)
"Young people in a class may all know the same one drug user, but it gives some indication as to how close young people are to a possible source of drugs." – DR
Drug experience
About 1 in 5 pupils in Year 10 – four times as many as in Year 8 – have tried at least one drug
Cannabis is by far the most likely drug to have been tried, with up to19% of 14-15 year old olds report having taken it
Up to 14% of 14-15 year olds have mixed drugs and alcohol 'on the same occasion'. (p.71-72)
"Young people's drug use seems lower now than it was at its peak. There is no doubt that pupils can refuse unwelcome drug offers, which is an important thing to know." – DR
Section 6: Money [Top]
"Work and money open up all sorts of opportunities, including the opportunity to explore health-risky behaviours. We also know that paid work is an important site for young people's injuries." – Dr. David Regis, Research Manager.Paid work during term time
The percentage of young people with a regular job rises from up to 29% (12-13 years) to up to 40% (14-15 years). (p.74)
"Many young people will have experience of employment before they leave school." – DR
Type of work
Paper and milk rounds are prime jobs for the males, with babysitting common for the females. Paid housework is also an important source of income for the younger respondents. (p.75)
Hours worked
Up to 24% of the 14-15 year old workers worked for more than 8 hours during the week before the survey
The average hours worked per week was around 3.5 (12-13 year olds) and up to 5.4 (14-15 year olds). (p.76)
Money earned
Up to 18% of 14-15 year olds earned more than £30 'last week'
The average earnings for the same age group was around £16.50 (p.77)
"Sex differences in types of job and earnings appear early in life, it seems." – DR
Pocket money
Up to 44% of 10-11 year olds receive weekly pocket money and around 66% get up to £5, while up to 29% of the 14-15 year olds receive more than £10 per week. (p.78-79)
"Not everyone gets pocket money, and it may not be on a regular schedule." – DR
Total income
12% of the 14-15 year olds receive more than £30 per week from pocket money and jobs. (p.80)
"We see higher levels of income associated with all sorts of health-related behaviours, like smoking, drinking alcohol and consuming fast food. So money may be the root, if not of evil, then ill-health." – DR
Saving money
More older males 41% than females 34% are savers and up to 46% of all pupils saved something
Figures from 1993 show that males have always saved more than females and 12-13 year old males in particular. (p.81)
"It's sometimes suggested that young people don't think much about the future, but these figures contradict that idea." – DR
Spending money
24% of older males spent more than £20 during the week before the survey. (p.82)
Items bought last week
For all groups: sweets (up to 44% ) and soft drinks (up to 40%). (p.83-84)
For individual age/gender – top 4 choices:
 |
10-11 yr M | sweets 38% | computer games 34% | Leisure/sports centre 30% | cds/music 28% |
| 10-11 yr F | sweets 37% | comics/magazines 29% | cds/music 27% | Leisure/sports centre 27% | |
| 12-13 yr M | sweets 40% | soft drinks 31% | computer games 23% | cds/music 23% | |
| 12-13 yr F | sweets 41% | clothes/footwear 39% | soft drinks 29% | comics/magazines 27% | |
| 14-15 yr M | sweets 44% | soft drinks 40% | fast food 32% | clothes/footwear 26% | |
| 14-15 yr F | sweets 43% | clothes/footwear 43% | soft drinks 34% | cosmetics/toiletries 32% |
"The highs and lows of spending habits fit our expectations. That's not to say we shouldn't collect the information – until you have the figures, you're risking a surprise." – DR
Section 7: Exercise and Sport [Top]
 |
"The poor levels of physical activity among many young people is of concern – particularly the older girls, but most young people tell us that they enjoy being physically active and that there are pursuits that they want to do. We must put even more effort into making sport and other physical activities attractive and accessible to them." – Angela Balding, Survey Manager. |
48% of the 10-11 year old females enjoy physical activity ‘a lot’. However, far fewer females than males in each year group report liking sport ‘a lot' Nearly half as many 14-15 year old females as males say they enjoy physical activity ‘a lot'. Nevertheless, over 83% of 10-11 year olds and over 68% of the secondary pupils enjoy physical activity ‘quite a lot' or ‘a lot'. (p.90)
"We are always encouraged by how many young people enjoy being physically active – we must work harder to enable them to do so." – AB
Active sports
Nearly all of the 36 activities listed show a decline in involvement with increasing age except for 5-a-side football (males), fitness exercises, golf (males), soccer (males), weight training (males) and 'going for walks' (females)
'Going for walks' is a popular activity for females (up to 38% of older females). (p.87-89)
Fitness
Up to 68% of 10-11 year old pupils think they are ‘fit’ or ‘very fit’
25% of the 14-15 year old females describe themselves as ‘unfit' or ‘very unfit'
Perceived fitness declines with age in males and females
From 1991-2006 there is an upward trend (from 10%-20%) of 14-15 year old females that report being unfit. (p.91)
"It's hard to judge your own fitness exactly, but what they tell us matches their accounts of their activities. We do know pupils now see themselves as less fit than did pupils a few years ago, but that may be because the standards they judge themselves against have risen." – DR
Exercise
Over 90% of all groups (10-15 year olds) had exercised to the level of ‘breathing hard' on one day in the previous week. The gap is seen to widen between males and females among the frequent exercisers as they get older
Up to 10% report never taking exercise in the past week that caused them to breathe harder and faster. (p.92)
"Don't tell them this, but most young people are fairly fit by virtue of being young. But if they don't find something they like doing and get into good exercise habits early, it's going to be hard later on to build exercise into their lives." – DR
Section 8: Social & Personal [Top]
"Since 1996, we have noticed a marked increase in the proportion of young people who worry about school. Despite their worries, most pupils (and more boys than girls) say that they are generally satisfied with their lives. – Angela Balding, Survey Manager.Meeting people of their own age for the first time
Up to 25% are ‘quite' or ‘very uneasy'. (p.95)
Useful school lessons in health education
Most lessons on the list are reported to be less 'useful' as pupils get older
Lessons about drug education, safety, sex and relationships education and physical activity are useful. (p.96)
"Young people who rate their drugs lessons as useful are less likely to experiment with drugs." – DR
Enjoyable school lessons
Up to 34% report enjoying 'all' or 'most' school lessons. (p.97)
"The Government's Every Child Matters agenda makes enjoyment an explicit aim." – DR
GCSEs
57% of 14-15 year olds expect good grades at GCSEs (in England, in recent years, around 55% of pupils have achieved grades A-C). (p.98)
After Year 11
63% of 14-15 year old females and 51% of 14-15 year old males want to continue with full-time education. (p.99).
Worries
Around 30% of 10-11 year olds worry about 'family problems'
14-15 year old females top the list of most problem areas
‘The way you look' worries 54% of older females. (p.100)
"Young people don't seem more or less worried than the previous generation, but they may worry about different things ." – DR
School-work problems
39% of 14-15 year old females report worrying about school-work problems
Up to 24% of all pupils look to the teacher for support. (p.101)
"More of today's pupils say they would go to a teacher (as opposed to a parent)." – DR
Health problems
34% of 12-13 year old females report worrying about health problems and most pupils would turn to their mother and father for support.(p.102)
Friend problems
Gender differences are pronounced. More males say mother and father, and 24% of 12-15 year old males would ‘would keep it to myself'
More females say mother but up to 36% of older pupils would share the problem with another friend. (p.103)
Bullying problems
20% of 12-13 year old females report worrying about this problem and, 22% of 14-15 year old males would keep, to themselves, any problems they experienced with bullying. (p.104)
"Parents are the most important source of support for young people, but, depending on the issue, they may also seek help outside the family, talking to teachers about school or a school nurse about a health problem ." – DR
Sources of support
‘My family’ and ‘friends’ provide the initial support and source of information for a range of topics from ‘school problems’ to ‘sex and relationships’ and ‘being bullied’ (p.105-106)
"We have changed the way we ask about support and information, to reflect the great number of sources that young people have available to them. Despite this range, many young people still feel confused about some issues and unable to talk with anyone." – DR
Peer pressure/Self-efficacy
More pupils say they are usually able to say no to doing something they do not want to (61%) than are usually able to say the right thing when they want something (52%). (p.107)
"We have heard a lot of talk about 'peer pressure' in health education over the years. These new figures shed some light on young people's social skills." – DR
Self-esteem
The level of self-esteem tends to increase with age
The ‘high' group included more males than females. (p.108)
"Is this boys' unwillingness to admit weakness, or are girls actually less confident?"
“We can often see differences in levels of self-esteem related to behaviour, but we and other researchers have often found that higher levels of self-esteem may be linked with behaviours we think of as risky, like cannabis use. Research often throws up findings which tell us that the world is more complicated than we assumed!” – DR
Control over health
The majority feel they are in control of their health
At least a quarter do not think they can influence their health by their own efforts. (p.109-111)
"There is a link in older females between smoking and having a fatalistic feeling of being unable to exert control over their health." – DR
Trust in adults
Around 75% trust at least two adults
Around 5% of pupils trust no one. (p.112)
Life satisfaction
Males are more satisfied than females. This difference is in line with evidence (p.100) that females worry about more things than males. (p.113)
"Dissatisfied pupils are more likely to engage in health-risky behaviours." – DR
Sexually transmitted diseases
7%-11% [7-12%] think that HIV/AIDS can be treated and cured; 35% of Year 10 females believe the same of Chlamydia. (p.114)
"There is still an amount of confusion among young people, who may be still confused as they begin sexual relationships." – DR
Methods of contraception
Up to 79% selected 'condoms' and up to 73% chose 'The Pill' as the most reliable contraceptive method to stop pregnancy. (p.115)
"There is a level of confusion around about contraception; it may not be directly relevant for most of them yet, because they have not started having sex, but we'd like them to get their ideas and expectations sorted before then." – DR
Methods of contraception reliable to stop infections like HIV/AIDS
Up to 65% chose 'condoms' although there were differences between age and gender e.g. 42% in the 12-13 year old group and 59% (males) and 65% (females) in the 14-15 year old group. (p.116)
Birth control services
45% of the 14-15 year old females knew about a local birth control service for young people, and knowledge grew with age
54% of the 14-15 year old males did not know about a local service. (p.117)
"Girls seem more aware of such services; is that because boys still see it as a girl's responsibility?" – DR
Section 9: The Primary Questionnaire Responses (10-11 year olds) [Top]
This section contains responses from primary children in Year 6 that are not reported in the previous eight sections.
‘Stranger danger'
Up to 33% (which has been consistent for a number of years) report that they have been scared or upset by an adult stranger
22% ran away when approached by a stranger. (p.123-124)
"We are conscious that children may also be at risk from people that they already know." – DR
Alcoholic drinks
14% of the 10-11 year old males drank alcohol in the previous week. (p.125)
Smoking
Up to 16% said ‘maybe' or ‘yes' to smoking when they are older. (p.126)
"It seems this may be an accurate prediction, as around a quarter of adults smoke – in which case, what can we do to make them more smoke-proof?" – DR
Talking about drugs
Up to 55% said their teachers had spoken to them about drugs. (p.127)
“Drugs are so varied and their effects so complicated, that parents usually welcome schools taking on this issue in the classroom” – AB
Playtime and dinner time
More females than males report playing running or skipping games
20% of females compared with 17% of males report 'reading quietly' during playtimes. (p.128)
“We like to see pupils reading but during playtimes it may be more important to take the chance to be physically active.” – AB