Our latest international report
A focus on adolescent social media use and gaming in Europe, Central Asia and Canada
This report from the 2021/2022 HBSC survey reveals concerning trends in adolescent digital behaviours, including a rise in problematic social media use and high rates of daily gaming. The findings highlight significant variations across countries, genders and socioeconomic groups, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive digital literacy education and support services to promote adolescent digital well-being.
Latest news
New WHO/HBSC report sheds light on adolescent digital behaviours across Europe, Central Asia and Canada
A new HBSC report, conducted in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Europe, provides crucial insights into adolescent digital behaviours, highlighting both the risks and benefits of social media use and gaming among youth in 44 countries and regions.
New WHO/HBSC report reveals alarming decline in adolescent condom use across Europe, Central Asia and Canada
The WHO Regional Office for Europe has today published a new report from the HBSC study, revealing concerning trends in adolescent sexual health.
New publication from HBSC Netherlands: positive social relationships amidst growing mental health concerns
A newly released fact sheet from the HBSC team in the Netherlands presents a nuanced picture of youth well-being. The findings reveal critical shifts in mental health, substance use, school experiences, and social media use—offering crucial insights to guide the support of young people throughout the Netherlands.
New report sheds light on digital technology use among Italian adolescents
The Italian HBSC team has released a comprehensive report on digital technology use among adolescents, providing crucial insights into the patterns and potential risks associated with social media use and gaming habits.
New WHO/HBSC report finds alarming disparities in diet, exercise, and weight among adolescents
The report highlights unhealthy eating habits, rising rates of overweight and obesity, and low levels of physical activity among young people, all of which are significant risk factors for a range of non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer.
New HBSC Ireland report: alarming trends in youth mental health alongside shifts in substance use and lifestyle habits
A newly released report from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) team in Ireland paints a complex picture of youth well-being. The findings, published by the team at the University of Galway, reveal a mix of encouraging trends and areas of deepening concern.
New WHO/HBSC report reveals concerning trends in adolescent substance use
A comprehensive analysis of the latest HBSC study data reveals significant insights into adolescent substance use patterns across Europe, Central Asia, and Canada. Published by WHO/Europe, the new report highlights concerning trends that demand attention and targeted preventive action.
New WHO/HBSC report offers in-depth look at bullying and peer violence across Europe, Central Asia, and Canada
The latest report from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, published today by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, reveals critical insights into the prevalence and impact of peer violence and bullying among adolescents.
EnCLASS survey reveals patterns of adolescent substance use in France
The EnCLASS survey, a joint initiative by the ESPAD and the HBSC study in France, offers a comprehensive analysis of substance use among French adolescents. Conducted between March and June of 2022, the survey included over 9,500 students from middle and high schools, providing valuable insights into the evolving patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use.
Exploring spirituality as a factor in youth well-being: HBSC study results
Recent research from the HBSC network has brought to light a pivotal aspect of adolescent health – the role of spirituality. The new publication, titled "Establishing spirituality as an intermediary determinant of health among 42,843 children from eight countries," examines the concept of spirituality through a unique lens, revealing its profound influence on the mental health of children aged 11 to 15 years.
HBSC at EIP 2023: sharing knowledge and building partnerships for adolescent health
The HBSC study plays a key role at the ongoing Excellence in Pediatrics 2023 Conference, with Jo Inchley (International Coordinator) leading as co-chair and keynote speaker. The conference focuses on crucial adolescent health issues, and includes important updates from HBSC members on adolescent substance use and mental health.
Spotlight on English youth: health and well-being insights from the 2021/22 HBSC study
The latest results from the 2021/22 HBSC study in England present a concerning landscape of adolescent health. Notably, the study reveals significant declines in both mental and physical health among young people, with disparities intensified by gender, age, and socio-economic status.
Finnish youth health and well-being: insights from the 2022 HBSC survey
The recently published national report from HBSC Finland provides a detailed view of the health and well-being of Finnish 5th, 7th, and 9th graders in 2022. It reveals that while a majority of schoolchildren feel their health and mental well-being are good, notable concerns persist.
New WHO/HBSC international report: A focus on adolescent mental health and well-being
New results from the HBSC study’s 2021/22 international survey, reveal a worrying picture for adolescent mental health, with girls reporting worse outcomes than boys across all measures of mental health and well-being.
HBSC and AHKGA Join Forces for Youth Physical Activity
The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study's Physical Activity Focus Group (PAFG) is delighted to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA).
Rising concerns over adolescent risk behaviours and mental health: findings from the 2021/22 HBSC Cyprus survey
The latest HBSC 2021/2022 survey on Cyprus adolescents unveils a worrying rise in risky behaviours and mental health issues. Key concerns include increased e-cigarette and cannabis use, declining physical activity, and amplified mental health challenges.
New WHO/HBSC international report: COVID-19’s impact on children and adolescents
The findings expose the COVID-19 pandemic's disproportionate effects on children and adolescents. Notably, the data underscores a more severe impact on those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those experiencing long-term school closures, as well as those lacking crucial social support systems.
Launch of HBSC report on Scottish adolescents: Unraveling health trends and lifestyle choices
New insights into Scottish adolescents' health and lifestyle trends were unveiled in HBSC Scotland's latest national report, published today at an event in Edinburgh.
Unveiling the state of youth health and behaviour in sweden: insights from the latest HBSC study
The 2021/22 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey results in Sweden reveal concerning trends among the nation's 11, 13, and 15-year-olds, including declining school satisfaction, rising alcohol and snuff use, decreased condom use, and increasing health complaints.
New data reveal inequalities in homeschooling and mental health of Slovenian adolescents
Slovenian adolescents from lower-income households faced significant barriers to homeschooling in 2020, reveals the latest results from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. These adolescents also experienced greater feelings of loneliness than those from more affluent families.
New data shows Finnish girls’ mental health deteriorated during COVID-19 pandemic
Among 15-year-old girls in Finland, 1 in 5 reported feeling low about their everyday life in 2022, according to the latest Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study results.
Estonian adolescents’ assessments of their life, health and family relationships are less positive, boys’ risk behaviour has decreased
The latest results from the Estonian HBSC study reveal alarming mental health trends and suggest serious health consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19’s unequal impact in Kazakhstan: examining the divide between urban and rural children
In Kazakhstan, urban and rural children experienced the COVID-19 crisis differently, reveals the latest Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study.
First HBSC results reveal poor mental health among adolescents in Kyrgyzstan
The first HBSC study in Kyrgyzstan shines a light on the health, well-being and social contexts of the nation’s youth, with worrying results for mental health.
Italian adolescents post-pandemic: mixed impact on mental health and relationships
New data from the HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) study conducted by the Italian National Institute of Health reveals both positive and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Italian adolescents.
Tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use among French adolescents declined during COVID-19 pandemic
Tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use have fallen among French adolescents in the last decade, particularly between 2018 and 2021, following the COVID-19 outbreak.
Portuguese adolescents’ mental health and well-being decline, HBSC study reveals
The 2021/22 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Portugal shows a concerning decline in Portuguese adolescents' mental health and well-being compared to the 2018 HBSC survey.
OECD report uses HBSC data to investigate how social and economic disadvantage impacts children
A new report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), ‘Starting unequal: How’s life for disadvantaged children?‘, looks at the well-being of children from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Unprecedented decline in mental health among Dutch teenagers during pandemic raises concerns
A report from the HBSC study reveals a troubling decline in the mental health of Dutch teenagers between 2017 and 2021, with girls being disproportionately affected. The report suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly contributed to the decline in mental health among teenagers, particularly girls.
New research suggests Facebook and Instagram addiction in adolescents linked to inequality
Adolescents from unequal backgrounds are more likely to report a problematic use of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other social media, according to new research using data from the 2017/18 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.
Public release of 2017/18 survey data: October 2022
The international file, including all mandatory variables for all regions and countries that took part in the 2017/18 HBSC survey, will be available via Open Access from October 2022.
Launch of the new HBSC study website
Our primary goal in launching this new website is to provide visitors with a responsive, user-friendly experience that offers easy access to key information about the study and materials such as reports and other publications.
WHO European Regional Obesity Report reveals extent of health challenge across Europe
The new WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022 reveals that almost two-thirds of adults and 1 in 3 children in the WHO European Region live with overweight or obesity, and these rates are growing.
About the study
Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) is a WHO collaborative cross-national study of adolescent health and well-being. Founded in 1982, the survey is undertaken every four years using a self-report questionnaire. HBSC uses findings at national, regional and international levels to:
- gain new insight into young people’s health and well-being;
- understand the social determinants of health; and
- inform policy and practice to improve young people’s lives.
Years since the study was founded
Researchers in the network
Member countries IN THE NETWORK
thousand young people surveyed in 2021/22
What do we research and why?
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 adolescence.
The adolescent years are a critical transitional period within the life course during which rapid physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development occurs. These years mark a period of increased autonomy during which health-related behaviours develop and independent decision-making may influence their current and future health.
Behaviours established during this transition period can continue into adulthood, affecting issues such as mental health, substance use, physical activity levels and diet, and longer-term health outcomes. Exposure to alcohol or tobacco use, physical inactivity, unprotected sex or violence, presents risks not only to adolescents’ current health and well-being but also their future health.
The adolescent years, therefore, provide a critical opportunity for prevention and intervention to support young people’s healthy growth and development, promote future health and well-being in adulthood, and, as such, underpin the health of the next generation.
How are data collected?
Data are collected in all participating countries and regions through school-based surveys using a standard methodology detailed in the HBSC international study protocol. Each country or region uses cluster sampling to select a proportion of young people aged 11, 13 and 15, ensuring that the sample is representative of all in the age range. Around 1500 students in each HBSC country or region are selected from each age group. Around 280,000 young people took part in the 2021/22 survey.
Publications
Featured reports
A focus on adolescent social media use and gaming
This report examines adolescent social media use and gaming behaviours, revealing trends in problematic use and online engagement. The findings provide essential insights to develop targeted interventions promoting healthy digital habits among youth.
A focus on adolescent sexual health
This report examines adolescent sexual behaviours, including sexual initiation, condom use, and contraceptive practices. The findings provide essential insights for policymakers and health professionals to develop targeted interventions and comprehensive sexuality education programmes.
Featured journal articles
Can we predict adolescent cannabis use? A Bayesian semi-parametric approach to project future trends
Addictive Behaviors (2024)
Trends and the Gender Gap in the Reporting of Sexual Initiation Among 15-Year-Olds: A Comparison of 33 European Countries
The Journal of Sex Research (2024)
Data ACCESS
The HBSC study provides methodologically rigorous, comparative data about the social determinants of health and well-being among young people. HBSC data files are produced from national surveys conducted in each member country using the HBSC research protocol.
National HBSC data files are submitted to the HBSC Data Management centre and the HBSC International data file is created.
Open access to survey data
Browse, analyse and download nationally representative data from HBSC surveys in 2001/02, 2005/06, 2009/10 and 2013/14. Data from the 2017/18 survey will be added in October 2022.
HBSC data browser
Explore, compare and share cross-national results from the latest international survey in 2022, alongside comparable figures from the HBSC surveys in 2014 and 2018.
Other data requests
Data from HBSC surveys in 1985/86, 1989/90, 1993/94, 1997/98 and 2017/18 are available for use by agreement with the HBSC International Coordinator and Principal Investigators.
Youth engagement
Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – which enshrines children’s rights to have their views and opinions heard, respected and taken into account – is fundamental to the work of HBSC.
The HBSC network believes that young people are essential stakeholders in the production of science and policy relevant to their lives.
The HBSC network uses a range of methodologies to enable young people to play an active role in the research process. Participatory research approaches with young people are employed in data generation, devising new research areas and related questions, data analysis and interpretation, and disseminating findings.
This book showcases rights-based participatory approaches to policy-making, practice and research with children. It includes a chapter written by the HBSC team in Ireland that describes the process and impact of involving young people in question development in the national survey.
This guide outlines the rationale for including children and adolescents in decision-making. It presents guidance on how participation with young people can be planned and executed to inform policy and practice developments and calls for policy-makers to prioritize both marginalized and seldom-heard adolescents and young children in decision-making.
Participants reviewed key issues as they relate to adolescent well-being in the WHO European Region to identify policy implications for countries and highlight technical and other resources needed to support countries in accelerating progress towards more equitable health and well-being in adolescence.
Connect with us
Email us
We welcome feedback, comments and enquiries about the HBSC study and research network. Email the International Coordinating Centre or Data Management Centre with your queries
Contact country teams
Find out about HBSC teams in your country. Contact details, team information and featured publications are available for each of the 51 teams currently in the study.
Social media
We are on Twitter and would love to connect with you. Follow @HBSCstudy for the latest news, reports, relevant research, comment and more.