HBSC is a cross-sectional research study conducted in collaboration with the World Health
Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. The HBSC international survey runs
on an academic 4-year cycle and in 2009/2010 there were 43 participating countries and
regions (www.hbsc.org). The overall study aims to gain new insight into, and increase our
understanding of young people’s health and well-being, health behaviours and their social
context. As well as serving a monitoring and a knowledge-generating function, one of the key
objectives of HBSC has been to inform policy and practice.
Cross-nationally, HBSC collects information on the key indicators of health, health attitudes
and health behaviour, as well as the context of health for young people. HBSC is a schoolbased
survey with data collected through self-completion questionnaires administered
by teachers in the classroom. The HBSC survey instrument is a standard questionnaire
developed by the international research network. The areas of interest are chosen in
collaboration with the WHO and are designed to help assist developments at a national and
international level in relation to youth health.
The issues identified for inclusion in this first report from the 2010 Irish survey mirror the
2006 national HBSC report and were identified by the Advisory Board and within key
national Strategy documents. These include general health, smoking, use of alcohol and other
substances, food and dietary behaviour, exercise and physical activity, self-care, injuries and
bullying. In addition, children aged 15 and over were also asked, for the first time in the Irish
HBSC survey, to report their sexual health behaviours and these data are presented here.
Statistically significant differences by gender, age and social class are presented in this report.
The HBSC study was funded by the Department of Health and the Department of Children
and Youth Affairs. The survey and analyses were carried out at the Health Promotion
Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway).