Marriage makes a difference to how healthy and happy children are, according to a new study measuring the wellbeing of children in Britain and Ireland.
The survey, co-authored by researchers in NUI Galway, and carried out with the collaboration of the World Health Organisation, found that Irish children are more likely to be healthier and happier than their UK counterparts. The survey also 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.
One of the researchers on the project, Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, said that the high percentage of Irish children living with their married parents was significant, according to a report in the Irish Times.
“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.”
The report is called ‘Young People’s Health in Great Britain and Ireland’ and it surveyed 20,000 children in total.
Dr Nic Gabhainn also commented: “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.”
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 UK counterparts, and were less likely to be on a diet or to report feeling low.
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).
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.
