Background to the Research

• Children and young people in NI live in one of the most deprived regions of the United Kingdom, alongside this they have no long-term experience of living in a peaceful society. Young people's experiences and opinions concerning the Troubles have received little attention to date. This study sought to elicit the views and opinions of young people about the NI conflict.
  

Research Approach

• In 1999 the YouthQuest 2000 survey was carried out, this comprised of interviews with 1000 young people aged 14-17 years covering topics ranging from daily experiences of harassment and bullying to bereavement and injury.
  

Main Findings

• Straying into an area where respondents did not feel safe was experienced 'very often' by 13.5% of the young people and 'occasionally' by a further 31.5%.
• Being stopped and searched by the security forces 'very often/occasionally' was experienced by 9.2% and 14.5% of young people surveyed. A third of Catholic young people had been 'very often/occasionally' stopped and searched compared to 14.3% of Protestants.
• Almost three-quarters of young people surveyed had never had to end friendships or had relationships disrupted because of the sectarian divide.
• Overall 8.1% of young people had 'very often' been involved in physical fights with a further 14.2% responding 'occasionally'. The highest response to this question was 'never' with 58.7%.
• Overall 13% of respondents had experienced a disruption to school either 'very often/ occasionally.
• Experiences of paramilitary punishment were reported as 'very often' by 4.6% of respondents and 'occasionally' by 8%. Sixty-one per cent had never had this experience.
• In total 5.6% of young people had 'very often/occasionally had their home attacked.
• Over half (52.5%) of young people surveyed had been caught up in a riot at least once, with 16.1% 'several times', 16.8% 'more than once' and 19.6% 'once'.
• Overall 16.9% had witnessed a shooting with 3.3% having done so 'several times', 4% 'more than once' and 9.6% 'once.
• In total 29.25 of those surveyed had had a relative injured, with 3.9% responding 'several times', 8.9% 'more than once' and 16.4% 'once'.
• Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries were thought to be 'very responsible' for the Troubles by 57.8% of respondents and 'responsible' by 61.6%.
• Just over 40% of respondents felt that the NI police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, were either 'very responsible' or 'responsible' for the Troubles.
• In general, Catholic young people are more likely than Protestants to view British institutions and local security forces as responsible for the Troubles.
• Overall 16.6% of young people felt that the Troubles had affected their schooling, education or training while 78.2% stated no effect.
• Twenty-two per cent of respondents stated that the Troubles had affected their home life and family relationships with 72.7% stating no effect.
• In general 42.3% of young people stated that their social lives, hobbies and leisure had been affected by the Troubles.
• Only 4.2% of respondents felt that the Troubles had 'completely ruined their lives'. This increased to 5.1% for Catholics compared with 2.75 of Protestants. Five per cent felt the Troubles had changed their lives.
• Just over 12% of young people had lost a loved one due to the Troubles; 14.6% for Catholics and 9.5% for Protestants.
• Almost one third of respondents had witnessed someone being killed or injured due to the Troubles.
• In general Catholics and males, as subgroups, tend to have had more Trouble-related experiences than Protestants and females.