New report offers profound insight into the concerns of our own children

Findings, which were based on research conducted for the longitudinal study 'Growing Up in Ireland', indicate that experiences of childhood depend hugely on gender, social class and school environments.

A survey, which was conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute, targeted the nine to 13 age demographic in an effort to gain an insight into their understanding of their own mental health, physical appearance, academic work and popularity.

According to the figures, educational environment plays a huge part in a child's perception of their own academic capabilities, with students, who attest to having a negative relationship with their teacher, displaying a less positive image of themselves.

Similarly, children from immigrant families are more critical of their performance than those from Irish families.

Turning its attention to the impact of the recent recession, the study indicated that children whose family were significantly affected by the downturn in the economy were more poorly behaved at the beginning of their teen years than at the age of nine.

Interestingly, children from middle-class backgrounds notice a disparity between their conduct and that of their peers who come from less privileged backgrounds, with many asserting they are better behaved than classmates from lower-income families.

Echoing the concern for academic capabilities shown by children from immigrant families, these same children also attest to feeling less positive about their physical appearance than their Irish counterparts

And with more girls admitting they struggle with the transition from primary school to secondary school, it may be unsurprising to lean that girls also have higher anxiety levels than their male classmates.

Commenting on the findings which shed a light on the psyche of the country's younger generation, Sarah Fitzpatrick, deputy CEO of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, said: "[The study] takes us beyond academic achievement to a more profound understanding of the role of education and the responsibilities of teachers in nurturing children’s wellbeing."

The report, which throws up many questions regarding the wellbeing of our children, has been published today.