HEALTH BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN (HBSC) IRELAND

World Health Organization Collaborative Cross-National Study


The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey is a WHO collaborative cross-national study that monitors the health behaviours, health outcomes and social environments of school-aged children every four years. HBSC Ireland surveys school-going children aged 9-18 years. The study is conducted by the HBSC Ireland team, based at the Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Galway.

In addition to disseminating HBSC findings in various publications HBSC data can be accessed as follows:

Open Access to HBSC Survey Data

The data portal contains three rounds of data (2001/2002, 2005/2006 & 2009/2010). 

The portal can be accessed through the HBSC Data Management Center.

The HBSC Data Management Center is based at the University of Bergen in Norway and Professor Oddrun Samdal is the HBSC International Data Manager.

The WHO European Health Information Gateway and Statistics App

The WHO European Health Information Gateway provides an interactive source of HBSC data.

HBSC findings are available as a smartphone application. The WHO European health statistics application provides easy access to data. It is searchable by country and a wide range of health topics, and connects to the WHO data gateway.

Central Statistics Office Data Tables

HBSC Ireland Data is used as the source for several PxStat data tables 

These include:
SCA07 - Home and School Life of Children aged 10-17  years
SCA08 - Alcohol and Drug Consumtion and Sexual Activity of Children aged 10-17 years
SCA09 - Physical Activity and Nutrition of Children aged 10-17 years
SCA12 - Well-being and Life Satisfaction of Children aged 10-17 years - Indicators: feelsafe where they live, good places to spend free time
SCA16 - Well-being and Life Satisfaction of Children aged 10-17 years - Indicators: engagement in hobbies, thinking they are too fat or too thin, happy with the way they are, happy with life at present, comfortable being themselves, levels of support from peers, having 3+ friends same gender

HBSC Ireland Short Reports

The HBSC Ireland team can prepare short reports for interested groups. The team responds to requests from voluntary, community and statutory groups for specific analyses of the HBSC Ireland dataset(s).

In order to request a specific short report, please download and complete the 'HBSC Short Report Request Form'  and forward to the HBSC Ireland team at hbsc@universityofgalway.ie.  Once we have received your request we will contact you to discuss your more detailed requirements. All short reports completed will later be made available via this website.