Attitudes to Behaviours and Life Choices

This report provides data relating to attitudes to behaviour and life choices among young people in Northern Ireland. It provides analysis of such attitudes by key demographic characteristics, the relationships between them, and comparisons with similar data available from England and Wales. Data were collected in 2002 from a total of 2134 Year 12 pupils in 22 schools with a wide geographical distribution in Northern Ireland. They comprised 7 grammar, 14 secondary and 1 comprehensive. Nine of the schools are predominantly attended by members of the Protestant community, 12 are predominantly attended by Catholic pupils and 1 is integrated. Children in Year 12 were asked to complete a questionnaire booklet. Pupils of all academic ability completed the questionnaires anonymously, under exam conditions, in each school. The questionnaires provide data on: demographic variables i.e. gender, locality, age, academic achievement at Key Stage 3, parental employment and marital status; morality and moral influences; religiosity – denomination, practice, attitudes; media exposure – TV, reading, internet; aspects of personality including self-esteem. The demographic breakdown of the sample is approximately as follows: 57 % male, 43 % female