Croatian pupils do not like school, they are overweight, however, they are content with life and more often than the average, live with both parents, shows an international survey, the findings of which were released on Tuesday by the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ).

The survey was conducted in cooperation with the World Health organisation in 45 countries in Europe and North America in 2018. In Croatia a total of 5,169 pupils aged 11, 13, and 15 participated in the survey.

The survey shows that most thirteen-year olds in Croatia do not like school, their eating habits are bad and all three age groups are overweight and the use of social media is quite problematic.

Fifteen-year olds in Croatia are among those countries with the lowest daily consumption of fruit and vegetables.

Croatia ranks highly with thirteen year-olds who have reported abuse via social media, receiving malicious instant messages, emails and text messages.

Data on risky behaviour – smoking and alcohol consumption – indicates a concerning situation, which, however, it is a little better than in 2014.

On the other hand, some indicators put Croatia among the ten top countries such as living with both parents, happy with life, subjective assessment of excellent health, low share of undernourished children and a low share of sexually active fifteen-year olds. Croatia is at the bottom of the ladder with regard to the use of condoms and contraception among teenagers.

The survey also encompassed health habits such as washing teeth, food habits, physical activity, obesity, peer group abuse, smoking, alcohol consumption, taking marijuana, risky sexual conduct and social surroundings with emphasis on school, family and peers, communication via modern technology and their influence on pupils.

The survey included 227,441 pupils in 45 countries in Europe and North America.