Irish children are not as happy as they used to be, a new report has found.

A wide-ranging study of over 9,000 children across the country by the University of Galway is raising concerns over young people's mental health and well-being.

Older children and those from less-affluent backgrounds are more vulnerable.

Children report less alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use but there has been an increase in vaping.

A teen vaping on the street. Image: Steven Gill / Alamy

There is also a worrying increase in the number of teenagers having sex without contraception.

The Health Behaviour in School Children (HBSC) study heard from over 9,000 children from primary and post-primary schools all over the country.

Health Promotion Research Centre Senior Researcher Aoife Gavin said older teenage girls are the least likely to be happy.

"Between 2018 and 2022 we've seen a decrease in self-reported happiness - this is where kids are asked to report on how happy they feel about their lives at present.

"In 2018 it would have been 42% of 10 to 17-year-olds and that's fallen to 28%.

"It's even lower when we look at the gender differences: 22% of girls compared to 33% of boys".

File photo of condoms,15-04-2009. Image: Niall Carson/PA Archive/PA Images

Ms Gavin said there has been a concerning change around sexual behaviour.

"One in four 15 to 17-year-olds are reporting that they've ever had sex - this remains unchanged from 2018," she said.

"However of concern what we are seeing is a decrease in reported condom use among the 15 to 17-year-olds.

"Alongside that [there is] an increase in young people reporting using no contraception the last time that they've had sex," she added.

The Irish Health Behaviour in School Children (HBSC) Study will be launched at 10.00am.

Reporting by: Teena Gates

Main image: Students heading into school on St Stephen's Green in Dublin, 1-3-21. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie