Young people in Scotland are starting to adopt more healthy behaviours, a major new study suggests.
Researchers at the University of St Andrews found that youngsters are smoking less and using cannabis less often than they were four years ago, when the last round of the study was conducted.
The research, which involved 11, 13 and 15-year-olds across 39 different countries, also revealed that Scottish children are consuming fewer fizzy drinks and brushing their teeth more.
And overall satisfaction with life is growing, with youngsters generally having plenty of good friends and claiming to be happy with their lot.
Dr Jo Inchley, assistant director of the Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit at St Andrews, said: 'Despite having typical teen problems such as poor communication with parents, Scottish youngsters are generally a sociable bunch and not at all isolated.'
However, the study also showed that rates of alcohol consumption and unprotected sex are higher among 15-year-old girls in Scotland than in many other European countries.
Additionally, levels of physical activity were found to be relatively low at all age levels in Scotland, compared with other nations that participated in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children report.
Professor Candace Currie, international coordinator of the study at the University of St Andrews, observed: 'There are some good headlines for young people in Scotland, but our report also shows what we need to urgently address in order to improve the health and social conditions of young people.'
Overall, the report confirmed that European teenagers' chances of enjoying good health depend on a number of factors, including age, gender, geography and family affluence.