New research, published by the ESRI and produced in partnership with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth (DCEDIY), shows that schools are more important than neighbourhoods in influencing adolescent behaviour. Using data from the Growing Up in Ireland study, the findings show that most 17-year-olds have no behaviour difficulties and few consistently ‘act out’ at home, at school, and in the community.

The study addresses the following research questions:

1. What patterns of (mis)behaviour are found among young people at 9, 13 and 17 years of age? To what extent do these patterns relate to differences in family resources, namely, social class, parental education and household income?
2. To what extent does adolescent behaviour reflect the social mix of the school, over and above the effects of individual family background (including parental education, income and social class)?
3. To what extent does adolescent behaviour reflect the social composition of the neighbourhood, over and above the effects of individual family background?
4. What family, peer, school and neighbourhood factors help to reduce the incidence of behaviour difficulties among young people? 

The analyses indicate generally low levels of behaviour difficulties among 17-year-olds. Externalising behaviour declined between the ages of 9 and 17 years while prosocial behaviour was relatively stable over time. Internalising behaviour increased between 13 and 17 years for young women but was stable for young men. Few young people experienced persistent behaviour difficulties over time and across the different domains of home, school and community, indicating the way in which behaviour was shaped by context and responded to different protective and risk factors within those contexts.