Study finds Ireland's young teens have fewer friends than teenagers a decade ago

Mothers are more likely to report that 13-year-olds have problems interacting with peers.

Ireland’s 13-year-olds have fewer friends and more problems interacting with peers, according to new research.

A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) shows, however, that they are also getting on better with their parents.

The new research, published by the ESRI in partnership with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth, looked at how the lives of 13-year-olds have changed over a decade in terms of their relationships with family and friends, their day-to-day activities and their school experiences.

It draws on data from the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) study, comparing 13-year-olds in 2011/12 and 2021/22.

These were children born in 1998 and 2008, which, the study noted, was a period of considerable social and policy change, “including the disruption of the pandemic, growing digitalisation and reform of the junior cycle”.

Dr Emer Smyth, author of the report said: “There are very encouraging findings of better-quality relationships between teenagers and their parents, with less conflict and greater discussion. However, financial pressures continue to be a source of friction in families.

“In addition, young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to take part in the kinds of out-of-school activities (like hard exercise and cultural engagement) that enhance their development.

(This highlights) the need for subsidised activities in communities and support for schools to provide access to a range of extracurricular options.

Mothers and fathers report much lower levels of conflict with their teenage children over time and mothers are more responsive to the needs of young people than previously.

In discussing their behaviour, parents are now more likely to explain what the young person has done wrong — 63% compared with 49% always doing so.

They are also much less likely to use punitive approaches like grounding — 69% compared with 59% never doing so — or shouting at the young person, 41% compared with 28% never doing so.

Young people reported having smaller friendship groups than previously, with 53% having three or fewer close friends compared with 41% some 10 years previously. In addition, mothers are more likely to report that 13-year-olds have problems interacting with peers.

Extracurricular activities

There has been an increase in weekly involvement in organised sports, from 65% to 70%, as well as a reduction in the proportion of 13-year-olds with very low levels of engagement in hard and light exercise.

Levels of engagement in cultural activities, such as drama and dance, have been stable, if not increasing, with over a third of young people involved in these pursuits.

There is also evidence that a significant number of young people rarely read for pleasure. Almost half (48%) of boys from working-class or jobless households say that they read less than once a week or never.

Not surprisingly, there has been a shift away from TV and computer games towards other screen time on a phone or other device, with high levels of screen time generally associated with less involvement in sport and cultural activities.

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman said: "I hope that this report will inform policymaking across Government on areas such as highlighting the importance of physical exercise in young people, the effects of the pandemic restrictions as well as the impact of screen time on their psycho-social development.”