Children from immigrant families are more anxious and see themselves as less popular than those from Irish families.

That is according to new research by the ESRI into child well-being and school experiences among 9 to 13-year-olds.

While child self-image is found to be less positive in smaller schools compared with schools that have more than 100 to 200 students.

Girls in multi-grade classrooms also report poorer behaviour than those in singe-grade classes.

It also found that regular involvement in sport and social relationships with teachers can boost a child's self-image.

Research professor at the ESRI, Dr Emer Smyth, outlined the main findings to Newstalk Breakfast.