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Understanding relationships between education, health and well-being among young people: what can the HBSC study contribute? Professor Candace Currie HBSC International Coordinator Director, Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (CAHRU), University of Edinburgh.
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Understanding relationships between education, health and well-being among young people: what can the HBSC study contribute? Professor Candace Currie HBSC International Coordinator Director, Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (CAHRU), University of Edinburgh
Health Behaviour in School-aged Children A World Health Organisation Collaborative Cross-national Study
HBSC purpose and scope • To gain new insight and increase our knowledge and understanding of adolescent health in social and developmental context
HBSC background • Initiated in 1982 in three countries • Adopted as WHO Collaborative Study • First cross-national survey in 1983/4 in 5 countries • Gradual growth in study membership • Now 43 participating countries: Europe/ North America • HBSC international network of ~ 300 researchers from different disciplines • Growing interest in HBSC globally
HBSC development Drivers • Perceived need for comparative data • To describe how health varies among young people in different countries • To understand determinants of health and patterns of health and behaviour • Need for reliable research evidence to inform policy and practice for health improvement
Conceptual framework HBSC • Broad definition of health – encompassing WHO (1948) concept of complete complete physical, mental and social well-being; not merely the absence of disease • Health related behaviours are part of adolescent lifestyles • Health and behaviour considered in social context – socio-ecological perspective
Scientific challenges HBSC • Development of common indicators (e.g. mental health, alcohol use, school environment) • Development of common measures translated to produce comparable data • Based on common concepts • Systematic methods of data collection • Quality control at all stages
HBSC surveys • Surveys conducted every four years at same time in each country • School based surveys of 11, 13 and 15 year olds: nationally representative random samples • Self-complete questionnaire administered in class time • National data files combined to create international data file
Well-being among adolescents • Many dimensions of well-being in this age group • Young people’s feelings about their health and about their lives • Expressed in their behaviour and lifestyles • Quantified by their life circumstances
Health related behaviours HBSC • Tobacco, alcohol and cannabis • Physical activity • Consumption of food and drinks • Toothbrushing • Weight control behaviour • Fighting and bullying • Sexual behaviour • TV and computer use • Electronic communication
Health and well-being HBSC • Self-rated health • Life satisfaction • Health complaints • Body image • Body Mass Index (BMI) • Injuries
Social context HBSC • School experience • Peer relations • Family life • Socioeconomic circumstances
Inequalities in adolescent well-being According to: • Gender • Age • Socioeconomic status • Geography ‘Inequalities in Young People’s Health’ Currie et al (2008). WHO Copenhagen Findings from HBSC 2005/6 Survey
Life Satisfaction boys girls Inequalities in Young People’s Health (Currie et al, 2008) .
Family AffluenceLife satisfaction Inequalities in Young People’s Health (Currie et al, 2008) .
Family AffluencePerceived school Performance Inequalities in Young People’s Health (Currie et al, 2008) .
Age, Gender, and Geography Inequalities in Young People’s Health (Currie et al, 2008) .
HBSC evidence of school effects on health and well-being • Low school satisfaction has negative impact seen in smoking, alcohol and cannabis use; poorer self rated health; higher rates of somatic and psychological symptoms • High academic achievement impacts positively on reported health complaints; life satisfaction; smoking and alcohol use; and healthy eating • School stress impacts negatively on health complaints, self-reported health, life satisfaction and well-being
HBSC evidence of school effects on health and well-being • HBSC 2002 International Report ‘The Social Context of Young People’s Health’ • HBSC 2006 International Report ‘Inequalities in Young People’s Health’ • See www.hbsc.org publications page for list of journal articles on this topic
HBSC contribution • Understanding the role school can play in adolescent well-being is a main area of HBSC research activity • Investigating impact that health and well-being can have on school related indices - less HBSC research in this area to date • Explaining geographic inequalities in school and health experience – requires understanding of social, cultural and economic determinants
HBSC future work • Developing a range of indicators to capture school experience – expanded set of optional modules in 2009/2010 survey • Continuing to develop new indicators of adolescent well-being for next survey in 2013/2014
HBSC Acknowledgements • Young people we study • The HBSC Network • The HBSC partner WHO • Funding organisations Further information at www.hbsc.org