About the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study
HBSC is a WHO collaborative cross-national study of adolescent health and well-being. The survey, administered in schools, is undertaken every four years using a questionnaire for 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds. HBSC findings are used at the national, regional and international levels to:
- gain new insight into young people’s health and well-being
- understand the social determinants of health
- inform policy and practice to improve young people’s lives.
The latest survey was undertaken in 2017–18 in 45 countries in Europe and North America.
The first HBSC survey was conducted in 1983–1984 in 5 countries. The study has now grown to include 50 countries and regions across Europe and North America, with over 400 researchers in the HBSC international research network. The study is funded at the national level by each of its member countries and regions.
HBSC focuses on understanding young people’s health in their social context – at home, school, and with family and friends. It aims to improve understanding of how these factors, individually and collectively, influence young people’s health throughout early adolescence.
Data use and access
High-quality, internationally comparable data are essential to support international policy development and monitor progress towards global targets, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030). Disaggregated data, such as those provided by HBSC, allow us to identify key challenges at different life stages and highlight priority areas for action. In the WHO European Region, HBSC data have been used to underpin the WHO European strategy for child and adolescent health, which provides a road map for countries and regions to engage across sectors to promote the health and well-being of children and adolescents. The data can be used by countries and regions to monitor progress on their health priorities and compare with other similar countries and regions.
Summary data from the HBSC study can be accessed at the European Health Information Gateway. Raw HBSC data can be accessed via the HBSC data portal, hosted by the University of Bergen.
