Research carried out at the University of York ranked the general well-being of children in Britain as 21st on an index comparing the experiences of children in 25 EU countries.
The survey reveals that children in Britain have the worst family relationships in Europe. They are among the least likely to eat meals together or talk to their parents regularly. Children in Italy were rated as having the best relationship with their parents.
British children are also most likely to come from step families and single parent families, the report found. It said, 'There is substantial evidence that children in single parent as well as step families tend to have worse outcomes than peers living with both biological parents.'
The report, published recently in the quarterly Social Indicators Research Journal, draws on surveys by the World Health Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to give a picture of children's well-being across Europe, and will form the basis of a Unicef report due later this year. It examines material situation, housing, health, subjective well-being, education, children's relationships, civic participation, risk and safety.
Children in the Netherlands fare the best, while Britain is ranked behind Slovakia, Latvia and Estonia, with Lithuania at the bottom of the table.
Another table shows that the UK, Malta and Greece have the worst child health, while Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark and the Czech Republic are at the top of the table.
The study found 'considerable differences' for childcare and pre-school attendance across Europe with the highest participation rate, 65 per cent, in Sweden, compared to just 1 per cent in the Czech Republic.
However, co-author Professor Jonathan Bradshaw said that the data was limited, covered only children up to two, and so omitted the pre-statutory school entry years.