The analytical publication about the growth environment of children has been published

Statistics Estonia has issued the publication “Lapsed. Children” which focuses on children’s and young people’s life and well-being in the society of Estonia. The children’s growth environment, poverty, crime, spare time, school life and health and risk behaviour have been discussed.

In 2006 the proportion of pupils who liked to go to school very much was 15% in case of pupils at the age of 11, 6% at the age of 13 and 6% at the age of 15. The satisfaction with school has been influenced by school bullying, which in some occasions may have tragic consequences. The number of boys is bigger among those who are being bullied. In 2006 the share of those who were bullied increased first and foremost among pupils aged 11. The trend was more or less the same for both boys and girls. Among 13-year-olds the share of those being bullied slightly increased in 2006, the tendency was mostly observed among girls.

Pupils who have been bullied by other pupils at least on 2–3 occasions within the past two months, 2002 and 2006 (percentage)

Source: National Institute for Health Development.

Regular smoking has become slightly less frequent among students. If in 2002 the share of children smoking at least once a week was 3% among pupils at the age of 11, 10% among pupils at the age of 13 and 24% among pupils at the age of 15, then in 2006 the same percentages were correspondingly 1, 9 and 23. But there is no reason to rejoice, because the time of trying the first cigarette has shifted towards earlier age, particularly in case of girls.

A new risk factor that has arrived in Estonia during recent years is the popularity of hookah. In 2006 36% of pupils had smoked hookah, including 42% of boys and 29% of girls. The hookah is particularly dangerous due to parents’ mild and even favouring attitude towards hookah.

Boys consume alcohol more actively than girls. In 2006 over a quarter of boys and about one fifth of girls (aged 15) consumed alcohol at least once a week.

The popularity of cannabis has increased among 15-year-old boys and girls who have used cannabis for at least once and within four years the respective proportion has increased by 7–8%. Among 15-year-old boys 24% had smoked cannabis within the past 12 months and among 15-year-old girls 14% in 2006.

The data of health and risk behaviour originate from the database of international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey administered by the National Institute for Health Development in Estonia. The pupils aged 11, 13 and 15 participated in the survey.