Irish teenagers are drinking less alcohol today compared to 10 years ago, however they are under more pressure with their school work and bullying continues to be a serious issue, a major new study has found.

The World Health Organization study looked at the happiness and habits of young people aged 11-15 in 40 countries in Europe and North America. It found that overall, they are happier and healthier than their counterparts 10 years ago.

The Irish leg of the study was carried out by researchers in NUI Galway. It revealed that in the last decade, fewer school-aged children are drinking alcohol weekly. These young people also rate themselves as being healthier and have better communication with their parents.

However, the researchers also found no reductions in bullying over the last decade and increased pressure when it came to school work. Furthermore, they also identified a big increase in the number of children from poorer families having more health complaints.

"Adolescence is a crucial stage in life when you lay the foundation for adulthood, whether that's healthy or otherwise. While there is much to celebrate about the health and wellbeing of many young people today, others continue to experience real and worrying problems," commented Ireland's principal investigator, Dr Saoirse NicGabhainn, of NUI Galway.

She explained that by comparing the health of young people today to 10 years ago, it is easier to understand how it is influenced by the circumstances in which a person lives.

"Of real concern must now be the increases in social inequalities in Ireland, where children from poorer homes are more likely to report ill health, and the gap between rich and poor has increased over time," she commented.

Details of the worldwide study are published in The European Journal of Public Health.