2018 study

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download a printable copy of this Infographic of findings from the latest HBSC Trends report

Trends in Health Behaviours, Health Outcomes and Contextual Factors between 1998-2018.

The HBSC Ireland report Trends in Health Behaviours, Health Outcomes and Contextual Factors between 1998-2018: findings from the Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study was launched on 8^th March 2021 by Frank Feighan, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and National Drugs Strategy.

The report explores the trends in the health and wellbeing of children in Ireland between 1998 and 2018. To date, HBSC Ireland has collected data from 62,720 school-aged children aged 10-17 years across the Republic of Ireland. The report describes the self-reported health status of children in Ireland over time in relation to key indicators: health behaviours, health outcomes and the contexts of their lives. Internationally comparable trends data are also included.

Download the report:

Gavin, A., Költő, A., Kelly, C., Molcho, M., & Nic Gabhainn, S. (2021). Trends in Health Behaviours, Health Outcomes and Contextual Factors between 1998-2018: findings from the Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study. Dublin: Department of Health download

Download a copy of the press release: English version download,  Irish version download

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

2017/18 HBSC INTERNATIONAL REPORT - LAUNCHED 19 May 2020

The HBSC international report from the 2017/2018 survey is now available. The Spotlight on Adolescent Health and Well-being provides data from 45 countries in Europe and Canada. Findings are presented on the health and social behaviours of almost 228,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15 years. 

The cross-national survey covers diverse aspects of adolescent health and social behaviour, including self-assessment of mental health; body image; dietary habits; physical activity; school context; relationships with families and peers; tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use; bullying and injuries; and sexual health (for those aged 15 and above only). A special focus on online communication was included in the most recent HBSC survey, to better understand the expanding role of digital technology in young people’s lives.

The study highlights the changing status of mental well-being among the Region’s youth. Reports of poor mental health – feeling low, nervous or irritable – are increasing across the Region. The data also clearly show that mental health declines with age. While technology can have positive benefits, it can also introduce new threats, such as cyberbullying, which disproportionately affects girls. Over 1 in 10 adolescents report having been cyberbullied at least once in the past two months.

As the latest HBSC study, featuring findings from 2017/2018, is released, the world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The next study, which will feature findings from 2021/2022, will therefore reflect the impact of the pandemic on the lives of young people.

Further information can be found on the WHO/Europe website 

To access both Volume 1 Key Findings and Volume 2 Key Data of Spotlight on Adolescent Health and Well-Being, visit: https://hbsc.org/publications/reports/spotlight-on-adolescent-health-and-well-being/  

HBSC special issue published in Journal of Adolescent Health

12 May 2020

‌We are delighted to announce that a special issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health has been published to accompany the launch of the International HBSC report. This includes ten scientific journal articles and three commentaries, which are the first international publications from the 2018 datasets. You can find the special issue at https://www.jahonline.org/issue/S1054-139X(20)X0013-9.

In addition to the national and international reports HBSC Ireland 2018 data has been used in the following government and other health organisations reports: 

UNICEF - Worlds of Influence: Understanding what shapes child well-being in rich countries

HBSC Ireland data features in a new UNICEF report Worlds of Influence: Understanding child well-being in rich countries. This report reveals children’s experiences against the backdrop of their country’s policies and social, educational, economic and environmental contexts.

State of the Nation's Children: Ireland 2020

22 December 2020

Published by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the State of the Nation's Children report is now available as a web version. HBSC Ireland is a main data source for this report which provides the most up-to-date data on the National Set of Child Wellbeing indicators, and:

New report on young carer's in Ireland

1 December 2020

‌Family Carers Ireland have published an new report briefing which sets out key findings relating to young carers' health and wellbeing, social enviroments and health behaviours. The report draws on findings from the HSBC Ireland 2018 study,

Download the full report: Young Carers in Ireland: Insight into the Prevalence and Experiences of Young Carers in Ireland using data from the HBSC 2018 Study.

New report presents first data on sunburn, sun protection behaviours and sunbed use in under-18’s

17 June 2020

‌‌HBSC Ireland data fetures in a new report published by the Institute of Public Health and NUI Galway’s Health Promotion Research Centre on sunburn, sun smart behaviours and sunbed use by children.

The report, Children’s exposure to ultraviolet radiation – risk profile for future skin cancers in Ireland, presents data on risk factors in Ireland for developing skin cancer in adult life

This report was developed to inform implementation of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2019-2022.

Data is presented principally from the 2018 Health Behaviours in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Survey, which reports health behaviours for those aged 10 to 17-years-old. The total sample size was 10,271.

Childhood sunburn, unprotected sun exposure and use of sunbeds increase the risk of developing skin cancers later in life. Repeated episodes of severe sunburn during childhood doubles the risk of developing melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer – in later life. 

Some of the key findings of the report include:

• Nearly 90% of 10 to 17-year olds said they have experienced sunburn in their lifetime. Around 74% said they experienced sunburn at least once during the past year.
• Eight out of 10 schoolchildren reported wearing sunscreen, while seven out of 10 reported using sunglasses on sunny days.
• The adoption of other sun protection measures, like covering up, wearing hats and avoiding peak UV hours, were less consistent.
• 32% of schoolchildren reported that they avoided peak UV hours of the day.
• Around 50% said they wore protective clothing to cover arms and legs when in the sun, while 17% reported never using sunscreen.
• Girls were more likely to wear sunscreen, sunglasses, clothes that cover arms and legs as well as avoid peak UV hours. Boys were more likely to wear hats.
• 3% of children said they used a sunbed in the last 12 months. The provision of sunbed services to children aged under 18 is contrary to Irish law as outlined in the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014.
• Six of the 10 warmest years in Ireland’s history have occurred during the childhoods of the current cohort of 18 to 20-year olds.
• Climate research predicts hotter summers and more heatwaves. This may present elevating risk for UV skin damage, particularly in terms of childhood exposures during the summer school holidays.

See https://publichealth.ie/uvreport/ for more information, including a link to a recording of the launch webinar.

Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Young Travellers in Ireland

14 April 2020

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, published thei Statstical Spotlight #4 Young Travellers in Ireland  report by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.  HBSC Ireland data fetures in the report which focuses on children and young persons who are members of the Traveller community, on topics such as health, housing, education and economic status. The Spotlight also contains a small amount of information on young Roma.