Young people’s behaviour and lifestyle preferences in Chile

The project aims to use the HBSC Protocol to conduct a study on several key aspects of Chilean children and adolescent’s health, behaviour and lifestyle preferences.

Existing research suggests that the nation’s youth face more choices and opportunities than previous generations, as a by-product of the country’s process of economic and social modernization. These range from how they build relationships with family and peers, to eating habits and sexual behaviour. In this context, the country needs extensive, reliable and comparable data in order to develop effective services for children and young people’s healthy development.

Using a nationally representative sample of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old adolescents, researchers from the University of Chile seek to obtain comprehensive data on issues related to physical and psychological health. Subject areas include: body image and obesity, school-based violence and bullying, substance use, effective relationships with family and peers, life satisfaction and socio-economic status.

Data of this kind will allow for cross cultural comparisons, which will enrich our understanding of the problems and opportunities affecting Chile’s young people and develop the global research base.