Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC)
Fotolia
This WHO collaborative cross-national study examines the physical and mental health of children and teenagers from a sociological perspective. It provides a wealth of information and analysis, presenting findings on patterns of health among young people aged 11, 13 and 15 years in 44 countries across the WHO European Region and North America.
The HBSC approach looks at young people in the context of the social circumstances and developmental processes that influence their health. It draws attention the effects of age, gender, socioeconomic status and geography on health, thus focusing policy on social and economic determinants.
International report
An international report is issued every four years and is widely used by policy makers and relevant professionals.
The latest report Social determinants of health and well-being among young people, is a snapshot of young peoples' social context - family, peers and school – as well as physical health and satisfaction with life. Both healthy and risky behaviour is explored, from eating breakfast to cannabis consumption, and statistical analyses reveal the importance of gender, age group and affluence.
