SOME young criminals appear to get high on the hardship of life in young offenders' institutions, claims a new report from psychologists.

The experts who carried out the research warned that such youngsters, who thrive on stress, would be difficult to rehabilitate under the current system.

Dr Martin Nieland and a team from the University of Sunderland were surprised how some inmates "seem to thrive on the culture of young offenders' institutions".

He said it might be necessary to change institution culture to help alter the attitudes of stress-junkie youngsters.

''Perhaps their environment could be moulded in such a way as to provide incentives and rewards that may encourage socially acceptable behaviour,'' he said.