Swiss schoolchildren better behaved than overseas counterparts

Swiss schoolchildren have fewer vices than their overseas counterparts, according to a new study by the World Health Organisation. Not only do they smoke and drink less, but they put schoolwork and sports ahead of watching TV and playing computer games.

Swiss schoolchildren have fewer vices than their counterparts in many parts of the world, according to a new study by the World Health Organisation. Not only do Switzerland’s youngsters smoke and drink less, but they put schoolwork and sports ahead of watching TV and playing computer games.

The study looked at 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds in North America, Israel and Europe. In all cases, Swiss youngsters were found to be model children, compared to their peers overseas.

But the picture was not all rosy. The report also revealed that Swiss schoolgirls are prone to depression, and that 15-year-old girls are much more susceptible to emotional imbalances than their male classmates.

Holger Schmid of the Institute for Prevention of Alcohol and Drug abuse, which led the research pertaining to Switzerland, says society is to blame for the problems experienced by girls.

“In our society, it is seen as normal if boys try alcohol, if they go out with others, if they get drunk. On the other hand, girls are not allowed to do the same, because people will consider them ‘bad girls’ who cannot be relied upon.”

Schmid says that, as a consequence, girls are forced to internalise their problems far more than boys, and so suffer from feelings of isolation, leading to depression.

The study found that girls in Switzerland feel depressed at least once a week. That suggest they suffer less than girls in Israel, the United States, Hungary and Greece, but worse than the international average.

Schmid says that in order to counter such worrying tendencies in Switzerland, teachers and parents must be made aware of what many girls are having to deal with, and approach the problem from a socio-educational perspective.

“Communication would be the first way to help them, at school and at home. Parents and teachers must be open to talk to the girls about the problems they have.”

Schmid adds that Switzerland’s gender-specific socialisation is a topic that has to be addressed “for instance, by creating preventive programmes addressing girls in particular.”

By Juliet Linley