Scotland's 15-year-olds are suffering due to pressure at school and home and struggling with their health, according to a new report.
Teenage boys and girls in Scotland, England and Wales are less likely than the average child from 42 countries and regions to report a good life satisfaction and liking school, the new World Health Organisation (WHO) study found.
The study of almost 220,000 young people in 42 countries and regions in Europe and North America found that, among 15-year-olds:
:: 80% of girls and 59% of boys in Scotland felt pressured by school work, significantly higher than the average of 51% of girls and 39% of boys across all countries. In Scotland, the figure was 73% of girls and 52% of boys, while in Wales it was 67% of girls and 52% of boys.
:: 11% of girls in Scotland and 14% of boys said they liked school a lot, less than the average of 24% for girls across all countries, and the same as the 22% for boys across all countries. In England, the figure was 16% of girls and 22% of boys and in Wales it was 16% of girls and 15% of boys.
:: 33% of girls in Scotland and 32% of boys have been drunk on two occasions or more, higher than the all country average of 20% for girls and 24% for boys. In England, 31% of girls had been drunk on two occasions or more as had 25% of boys, while in Wales, 34% of girls had been drunk as had 28% of boys.
:: 55% of girls and 27% of boys in Scotland think they are too fat, higher than the 43% for girls and 22% for boys average. In England, 50% of girls said they were too fat as did 25% of boys, while in Wales 52% of girls said the same as did 30% of boys.
The report also found that more young people from the least affluent households (lowest 20%) reported poorer results on a number of health indicators than those from the most affluent households (highest 20%), than in many other European countries.
These measures included daily fruit consumption, eating a daily breakfast, sedentary behaviour such as watching TV, and taking exercise.
Dr Joanna Inchley, deputy director of the Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit from the University of St Andrews, which led the study, said Scottish youngsters were doing well in some areas but there was still cause for concern.
She said: "Particularly concerning is the increase in school-related stress which may be contributing to poorer mental wellbeing especially among 15-year-old girls. It is essential that we look at ways of providing support to young people to help them navigate the challenges they face during adolescence."
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