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.

2002 Nat rep coverMicheál Martin, Minister for Health and Children, launched the report of the SLÁN (Survey of Lifestyles, Attitudes and Nutrition), adults aged 18+ years and HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children), school-going children aged 10-17 years, which was published in April 2003. 

download the full report here: 
Kelleher, C., Nic Gabhainn, S., Friel, S., Corrigan, H., Nolan, G., Sixsmith, J., Walsh, O. & Cooke, M. (2003). The National Health and Lifestyle Survey' s (II) Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN) and the Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey (HBSC). Dublin: Department of Health and Children. download

A total of 176 schools participated in the study with 5,712 pupils completing the questionnaire.

We would like to extend a big thank you to all of the children, their schools and parents for taking part in the 2002 HBSC study. Without your participation and time the study would not have been such a success.

Our Frequently asked questions page has further information on HBSC Ireland categorised by background, methodology, confidentiality and dissemination. 


KEY FINDINGS


General Health

Smoking

Alcohol and other substances

Nutrition and diet

Exercise

Accidents


DISSEMINATION

Findings from HBSC Ireland 2002 have been widely distributed in reports, journal articles, factsheets and presentations to various interest groups. Information on some key publications can be found here and a full list of publications and articles etc. can be found on the publications page. 

 

 

Regional Results of the National Health and Lifestyle Surveys

Published in November 2003, this report examines key lifestyle variables according to age, sex and across the 10 Health Board regions  as reported in the National Lifestyle Surveys, SLAN (Survey of lifestyles, Attitudes and Nutrition) and HBSC (Health Behaviours among School-going Children).


Download the full report here:  
Kelleher, C., Nic Gabhainn, S., Friel, S., Corrigan, H., Nolan, G., Sixsmith, J., Walsh, O. & Cooke, M. (2003).Regional results of The National Health and Lifestyle Survey s (II) Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN) and the Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged children survey (HBSC). Dublin: Department of Health and Children. download 


 
2002 Full Variable Report

This report presents findings from children on the socio-demographic patterns in health behaviours, risk behaviours, health outcomes and social contexts of young people's health. The findings are presented by age group, gender and social class.


Download the full report here: 

Nic Gabhainn, S. & Kelleher, C. (2003). HBSC 2002 Full Variable Report. Galway: HBSC Ireland, Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway. download 


2002 Factsheets

The 2002 HBSC factsheets are available on-line (Factsheets). These factsheets comprise two page summaries of some of the key findings from the 2002 HBSC survey of school-children in Ireland. Contextual information on each of the topics is also provided and includes the subject areas of drug and alcohol use, dieting & food habits, smoking, bullying, exercise, injuries and family structure and relationships. These factsheets should be of interest to health professionals, researchers, policy makers, teachers, students and parents. 

 

(See the HBSC International website http://www.hbsc.org/ for more HBSC International publications.) 

 

Young people’s health in context. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study: international report from the 2001/2002 survey

Published in 2004, this study was carried out over a large geographical area and covers wide-ranging health topics. They include the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of health, and the influences of the family, schools and peers, and of socioeconomic and developmental factors.

Download the full report here: 
Currie, C., Roberts, C., Morgan, A., Smith, R., Settertobulte, W., Samdal, O. & Barnekow-Rasmussen, V. (Eds.) (2004). Young People's Health in Context. International Report from the 2001/2002 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. WHO Policy Series: Health Policy for Children and Adolescents, No.4. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe. download

  

 

In addition to the National and International reports HBSC Ireland 2002 data has been used in the following reports for government and other health organisations:


Department of Health and Children: 
Strategic Task Force on Alcohol, 2nd Report. (2004)  download

Government Publications Office: 
Towards 2016: Ten year framework social partnership agreement 2006-2015. (2006).  download 

National Task Force on Obesity: 
Obesity the Policy Challenges- the Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity. (2005). download