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Accessibility & Language2006 study
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.
The 2006 HBSC Ireland Report was launched by Health Promotion Minister, Pat the Cope Gallagher, in August 2007.
download the full report here:
Nic Gabhainn, S., Kelly, C. & Molcho, M. (2007). The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study 2006. Dublin: Department of Health and Children.
download English (125MB) download As Gaeilge (125MB)
A total of 215 primary and post-primary schools took part with 10,334 children completing the questionnaire.
An additional 122 primary schools took part in the Middle Childhood survey (9-10 year olds) with 3,404 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 2006 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. This page is categorised as background, methodology, confidentiality and dissemination.
KEY FINDINGS
DISSEMINATION
Findings from HBSC Ireland 2006 have been widely distributed in reports, journal articles, factsheets and presentations to various interest groups. Information on some key publications can be found under the tabs below and a full list of publications and articles etc. can be found on the publications page.Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: What do children want to know?
This report detailing the perspectives of Irish school children on the topics included in the HBSC study was launched in November 2010. Drawing on a participative research methodology where children were invited to give their views on HBSC, the report presents findings on the topics that children find most interesting, and what exactly children would like to know about these topics.
Download the full report here:
Doyle, P., Kelly, C., Cummins, G., Sixsmith, J., O’Higgins, S., Molcho, M. & Nic Gabhainn, S. (2010). Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: What do children want to know? Dublin: Department of Health and Children. download (1.23MB)
2006 Middle Childhood Report
The first middle childhood report was launched in May 2009 by the HBSC Ireland team and published by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Middle childhood (ages 5-12 years) is an important developmental period when children adapt to life outside the family. Events and experiences during this time can impact on the adolescent and adult that the child becomes.
Up until recently there has been a relative lack of data on this age group in Ireland and, indeed, worldwide. In 2006, the HBSC study, for the first time in Ireland, collected data from children in 3rd and 4th class in primary schools. This report presents findings from children on socio-demographic patterns in the health behaviours, risk behaviours, health outcomes and social contexts of young people's health. The findings are presented by age group (9 & 10 year olds), gender and social class.
Download the full report here:
Kelly, C., Molcho, M. & Nic Gabhainn, S. (2009). Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Ireland 2006 Middle Childhood Study: Socio-demographic patterns in health behaviours, risk behaviours, health outcomes and social contexts of young people's health. Dublin: Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Health and Children, Government of Ireland. download (865KB).
2006 Full Variable Report
This report presents findings from children on socio-demographic patterns in the 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:
Kelly, C., Walker, L., Brennan, G., Molcho, M. & Nic Gabhainn, S. (2008). HBSC 2006 Full Variable Report:Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Ireland study 2006: Socio-demographic patterns in the health behaviours, risk behaviours, health outcomes and social contexts of young people's lives. Dublin: Department of Health and Children. download (4.27MB)
Inequalities in health among school-aged children in Ireland
The extent of health inequalities among children in Ireland has been revealed in a report released on the 7th October, 2008, by the Health Promotion Research Centre, NUI Galway. The "Inequalities in Health among School-aged Children in Ireland" report presents findings on the self-reported health status and health behaviours of specific groups of children living in Ireland. These groups include students from the Travelling community, students from immigrant families, students with a disability and/or chronic illness and students who are part of the Department of Education and Science's School Support Programme, under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools action plan, referred to as DEIS schools.
Download the full report here:
Molcho, M., Kelly, C., Gavin, A. & Nic Gabhainn, S. (2008). Inequalities in health among school-aged children in Ireland. Dublin: Department of Health and Children.
download - English (657KB) download - As Gaeilge (612KB)
Download the press release:
Widespread Health Inequality Among School Children in Ireland download (10KB)
Éagothroine Sláinte go Forleathan i Measc Leanaí ag Aois Scoile in Éirinn download(17KB)
Notes to Editors downloaddownload (10KB)
2006 Factsheets
The 2006 HBSC factsheets can be downloaded from our factsheets page. These factsheets comprise two page summaries of some of the key findings from the 2006 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. New to this series of factsheets are fruit and vegetable consumption and electronic communication with friends. In total, 20 factsheets are available and 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.
Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO Collaborative Cross-National Study: 'Inequalities in young people's health' - Launched 17th June 2008
This international report from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) World Health Organization collaborative cross-national study is the most comprehensive to date. It presents the key findings on patterns of health among young people in 41 countries and regions across Europe and North America. The document presents a status report on health, health-related behaviour and the social contexts of young people's health in 2005/2006 and provides the latest evidence from this unique cross-national study on the well-being of young people in industrialised nations.
This is the fourth in a series of international reports from the HBSC study published by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in the 'Health policy for children and adolescents' (HEPCA) series. In addition to presenting key statistics on young people's health, this report has a special focus on health inequalities. It presents data on gender, age and geographic and socioeconomic dimensions of health differentials. The aim of the report is to highlight where inequalities exist in aspects of young people's health and well-being in order to inform and influence policy and practice and to contribute to health improvement for all young people.
Download the full report here:
Currie, C., Nic Gabhainn, S., Godeau, E., Roberts, C., Smith, R., Currie, D., Pickett, W., Richter, M., Morgan, A. & Barnekow, V. (eds.) (2008). Inequalities in young people's health: HBSC international report from the 2005/2006 Survey. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe. (Health Policy for Children and Adolescents, No. 5). download
HBSC Ireland Press Release - in English download (88KB) As Gaelige download (69KB)
WHO Press Release June 17th download (66KB)
WHO HBSC 2008 Factsheet June 17th download (78KB)
HBSC Great Britain and Ireland Report.
A new report focusing on data collected from young people in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales is launched today. The report presents data from the 2006 HBSC survey and expands on the findings from the international report Inequalities in young people's health (Currie et al, 2008), with additional variables and prevalence rates that allows more comprehensive and focussed comparisons to be made between the four countries.
Download the full report here:
Young People's Health in Great Britain and Ireland: Findings from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Survey, 2006. download (3.1 MB)
Download the Press release download (51.5KB)
Department of Children and Youth Affairs:
National Strategy for research and data on children’s lives 2011-2016 download (1.24MB)
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs:
National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 download (2.35MB)
Department of Health and Children:
Health in Ireland: Key Trends 2010 download (1740KB)
SLÁN 2007: Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in Ireland. Injuries in Ireland: Findings from national population surveys download (982KB)
Department of Health and Children, Health Service Executive:
The National Guidelines on Physical Activity for Ireland download (4.90MB)
European Commission:
Mental Health Briefing sheet for Ireland download (99.5KB)
Health Research Board:
2010 National Report (2009 data) to the EMCDDA by the Reitox National Focal Point. Ireland: new developments, trends and in-depth information on selected issues. download (1.79MB)
2009 National Report (2008 data) to the EMCDDA by the Reitox National Focal Point. Ireland: new developments, trends and in-depth information on selected issues. download (2.09MB)
2008 National Report (2007 data) to the EMCDDA by the Reitox National Focal Point. Ireland: new developments, trends and in-depth information on selected issues. download (730KB)
Healthy Food for All
A good practice guide for community food initiatives. download (11.85MB)
A good practice guide for school food initiatives. download (4.26MB)
Good practice guide for breakfast clubs. download (14MB)
Scoping study for Healthy Food for All on breakfast clubs. download (812KB)
International Organisation for Migration:
Foreign-born children in Europe: an overview from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. download (628KB)
Office for the Minister of Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Health and Children:
State of the Nation's Children 2010. download (1.46MB)
State of the Nation's Children: Ireland 2008 . download (6.66MB)
UNICEF:
’The Children Left Behind: A league table of inequality in child well-being in the world’s rich countries’. Innocenti Report Card 9. download (753KB)
Western Region Drugs Task Force:
Substance Use in New Communities: A Way Forward. download (1.17MB)
WHO Regional Office for Europe:
A snapshot of the health of young people in Europe. download (5.49MB)
Review of social determinants and the health divide in the WHO European Regions: final report. download (4MB)
Social cohesion for mental well-being among adolescents. download (2.9 MB)
WHO/HBSC Forum 2009. Socio-environmentally determined health inequities among children and adolescents. Summary of outcomes, background papers and country case studies. download (1489KB)
