Toilet phobia – a new plague in school environment?

Metsä Tissue has carried out a School Hygiene Report in a total of seven European countries. The first study was made in Sweden, Norway and Denmark during the 2007 (* and the second one in UK, Germany, Poland and Finland in 2008. Both researches revealed that school children suffer from a toilet phobia.

Only 34% of the school children use the school toilet daily

The Metsä Tissue School Hygiene study revealed that only 34% of the school children use the school toilet daily. Holding all day cannot be good for them. It weakens the ability to concentrate and causes unnecessary tension. It might even cause physical problems.

An additional study, carried out in Göteborg University (**, was made among Swedish school children. Findings of this study support the fact that toilet phobia is actually a reality in many schools. The children avoid going to the toilet during the school day, because the toilets are so unpleasant. This, in turn, has created some health problems e.g. with kidneys and urinary track infections.

According to the Metsä Tissue study students are quite happy with almost all parts of their schools. They like the cafeteria, classrooms, gyms and schoolyards.

But why don't the children use school toilets? Is the washroom considered a messy place? Are the children afraid of catching viruses? Are the toilets too crowded? Are the children afraid of being bullied or humiliated in public?

Katrin’s full research report explains the reasons. Order/download research report here:

(* The study was based on the earlier studies about hygiene in northern Europe during 2005-2006 and on focus groups with Swedish children in 2007. A total of 4,355 individuals participated in the study.

This assignment was undertaken using a quantitative e-mail questionnaire sent to children 7-19 years old and to parents with children between the ages of 7-14 in Finland, Poland, Germany and United Kingdom.

For further info about full research report please contact us sales.uk@metsatissue.com

 (*The School Hygiene Survey was undertaken using a quantitative e-mail questionnaire sent to children 7-19 years old and to parents with children between the ages of 7-14 in Finland, Poland, Germany and United Kingdom. The International School Hygiene Survey was undertaken in spring 2009 in Finland, Poland, Germany and United Kingdom. Quantitative e-mail questionnaires were sent to children between ages 7-19 years and to parents with children between ages 7-14 years. A total of 4,355 individuals participated in the survey. A total of 4,355 individuals participated in the study: Finland 1,047 respondents, Poland 1,117 respondents, Germany: 1,091 respondents, United Kingdom: 1,095 respondents.

(**Två av tre barn vägrar gå på skoltoaletten, Aftonbladet 26.4.2001