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| UK youths 'among worst in Europe' | UK youths 'among worst in Europe' |
| (1 day later) | |
| Britain's teenagers are among the most badly behaved in Europe, a study by a think-tank has suggested. | |
| On every indicator of bad behaviour - drugs, drink, violence, promiscuity - the UK was at or near the top, said the Institute for Public Policy Research. | On every indicator of bad behaviour - drugs, drink, violence, promiscuity - the UK was at or near the top, said the Institute for Public Policy Research. |
| The institute looked at the results of a number of studies of adolescents conducted in recent years. | The institute looked at the results of a number of studies of adolescents conducted in recent years. |
| The researchers believe the country's record can be explained by a collapse in family and community life in the UK. | The researchers believe the country's record can be explained by a collapse in family and community life in the UK. |
| Free time | Free time |
| Measured against German, French and Italian youngsters, British 15-year-olds are drunk more often and involved in more fights, and a higher proportion have had sex. | Measured against German, French and Italian youngsters, British 15-year-olds are drunk more often and involved in more fights, and a higher proportion have had sex. |
| The institute says young Britons are marked out by how they spend their free time. | |
| They are not learning how to behave - how to get on in life - as they need to Nick PearceIPPR Send us your comments href="/1/hi/uk/6109916.stm" class="">Why teens go wrong | |
| In England, 45% of 15-year-old boys spend most evenings out with their friends, and in Scotland the figure is 59%. | In England, 45% of 15-year-old boys spend most evenings out with their friends, and in Scotland the figure is 59%. |
| In France just 17% of boys spend their time in the same way. | In France just 17% of boys spend their time in the same way. |
| On the other hand, European teenagers tend to sit down for meals with their parents far more often. | On the other hand, European teenagers tend to sit down for meals with their parents far more often. |
| Some 93% of Italian teenagers eat regularly with their families; in the UK just 64% of 15-year-olds do the same. | Some 93% of Italian teenagers eat regularly with their families; in the UK just 64% of 15-year-olds do the same. |
| 'Structured interaction' | 'Structured interaction' |
| Nick Pearce, from IPPR, said these figures pointed to an "increasing disconnect" between children and adults. | Nick Pearce, from IPPR, said these figures pointed to an "increasing disconnect" between children and adults. |
| He said youngsters were learning how to behave from one another instead of from adults. | He said youngsters were learning how to behave from one another instead of from adults. |
| "Because they don't have that structured interaction with adults, it damages their life chances," he said. | "Because they don't have that structured interaction with adults, it damages their life chances," he said. |
| "They are not learning how to behave - how to get on in life - as they need to." | "They are not learning how to behave - how to get on in life - as they need to." |
| The researchers concluded that the lack of adult interaction has left British teenagers increasingly vulnerable to failure. | The researchers concluded that the lack of adult interaction has left British teenagers increasingly vulnerable to failure. |
| Brand awareness | Brand awareness |
| One study looked at by the IPPR suggested 38% of British 15-year-olds in 2003 had tried cannabis - compared with 7% in Sweden and 27% in Germany. | One study looked at by the IPPR suggested 38% of British 15-year-olds in 2003 had tried cannabis - compared with 7% in Sweden and 27% in Germany. |
| Another said that in 2003 British 15-year-olds were the third worst binge-drinkers in Europe - only Denmark and Ireland were worse. | Another said that in 2003 British 15-year-olds were the third worst binge-drinkers in Europe - only Denmark and Ireland were worse. |
| Britons are also more immersed in consumerism than American youngsters, the research claimed. | Britons are also more immersed in consumerism than American youngsters, the research claimed. |
| This was indicated by their brand awareness and the amount of importance they attached to consumer goods and possessions. | |
| The IPPR's report is due to be published next week. | The IPPR's report is due to be published next week. |