Understanding relationships between education, health and well-being among young people: what can the HBSC study contribute? Professor Candace Currie HBSC

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 ChildrenA World Health Organisation Collaborative Cross-national Study

Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO collaborative cross-national study www.hbsc.orgwww.hbsc.org

HBSC purpose and scopeHBSC purpose and scope

To gain new insight and increase our knowledge and understanding of adolescent health in social and developmental context


HBSC backgroundHBSC background

Initiated in 1982 in three countries Initiated in 1982 in three countries Adopted as WHO Collaborative Study Adopted as WHO Collaborative Study First cross-national survey in 1983/4 in 5 First cross-national survey in 1983/4 in 5

countriescountries Gradual growth in study membershipGradual growth in study membership Now 43 participating countries: Europe/ Now 43 participating countries: Europe/

North AmericaNorth America HBSC international network of ~ 300 HBSC international network of ~ 300

researchers from different disciplinesresearchers from different disciplines Growing interest in HBSC globallyGrowing interest in HBSC globally



HBSC developmentHBSC developmentDriversDrivers

Perceived need for comparative dataPerceived need for comparative data

To describe how health varies among young To describe how health varies among young people in different countries people in different countries

To understand determinants of health and To understand determinants of health and patterns of health and behaviour patterns of health and behaviour

Need for reliable research evidence to Need for reliable research evidence to inform policy and practice for health inform policy and practice for health improvement improvement


Conceptual framework HBSCConceptual framework HBSC

Broad definition of health – encompassing Broad definition of health – encompassing WHO (1948) concept of complete WHO (1948) concept of complete complete physical, mental and social well-complete physical, mental and social well-being; not merely the absence of diseasebeing; not merely the absence of disease

Health related behaviours are part of Health related behaviours are part of adolescent lifestylesadolescent lifestyles

Health and behaviour considered in social Health and behaviour considered in social context – socio-ecological perspectivecontext – socio-ecological perspective


Scientific challenges HBSCScientific challenges HBSC

Development of common indicators (e.g. Development of common indicators (e.g. mental health, alcohol use, school mental health, alcohol use, school environment) environment)

Development of common measures translated Development of common measures translated to produce comparable datato produce comparable data

Based on common conceptsBased on common concepts

Systematic methods of data collectionSystematic methods of data collection

Quality control at all stagesQuality control at all stages


HBSC surveysHBSC surveys Surveys conducted every four years at Surveys conducted every four years at

same time in each countrysame time in each country

School based surveys of 11, 13 and 15 School based surveys of 11, 13 and 15 year olds: nationally representative year olds: nationally representative random samplesrandom samples

Self-complete questionnaire administered Self-complete questionnaire administered in class timein class time

National data files combined to create National data files combined to create international data fileinternational data file


Well-being among adolescentsWell-being among adolescents

Many dimensions of well-being in this age Many dimensions of well-being in this age groupgroup

Young people’s feelings about their health Young people’s feelings about their health and about their livesand about their lives

Expressed in their behaviour and lifestylesExpressed in their behaviour and lifestyles Quantified by their life circumstancesQuantified by their life circumstances


Health related behaviours HBSCHealth related behaviours HBSC

Tobacco, alcohol and cannabisTobacco, alcohol and cannabis Physical activityPhysical activity Consumption of food and drinksConsumption of food and drinks ToothbrushingToothbrushing Weight control behaviour Weight control behaviour Fighting and bullyingFighting and bullying Sexual behaviourSexual behaviour TV and computer useTV and computer use Electronic communicationElectronic communication


Health and well-being HBSCHealth and well-being HBSC

Self-rated healthSelf-rated health

Life satisfactionLife satisfaction

Health complaintsHealth complaints

Body image Body image

Body Mass Index (BMI)Body Mass Index (BMI)

InjuriesInjuries


Social context HBSC Social context HBSC

School experience School experience

Peer relationsPeer relations

Family lifeFamily life

Socioeconomic circumstancesSocioeconomic circumstances


Inequalities in adolescent well-Inequalities in adolescent well-beingbeing

According to:According to:

GenderGender AgeAge Socioeconomic statusSocioeconomic status GeographyGeography

‘‘Inequalities in Young People’s Health’ Inequalities in Young People’s Health’ Currie et al (2008). WHO CopenhagenCurrie et al (2008). WHO CopenhagenFindings from HBSC 2005/6 Survey Findings from HBSC 2005/6 Survey

boys

girls

Life Satisfacti

on

Inequalities in Young People’s Health(Currie et al, 2008).

Family Family AffluenceAffluence

Life Life satisfactionsatisfaction

Inequalities in Young People’s Health(Currie et al, 2008)

.

Family Family AffluenceAffluence

Perceived Perceived school school

PerformancPerformancee

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 HBSC evidence of school effectsevidence of school effects on health and well-being on health and well-being

Low school satisfaction has negative impact seen Low school satisfaction has negative impact seen in smoking, alcohol and cannabis use; poorer self in smoking, alcohol and cannabis use; poorer self rated health; higher rates of somatic and rated health; higher rates of somatic and psychological symptomspsychological symptoms

High academic achievement impacts positively on High academic achievement impacts positively on reported health complaints; life satisfaction; reported health complaints; life satisfaction; smoking and alcohol use; and healthy eatingsmoking and alcohol use; and healthy eating

School stress impacts negatively on health School stress impacts negatively on health complaints, self-reported health, life satisfaction complaints, self-reported health, life satisfaction and well-beingand well-being


HBSC evidence of school effectsHBSC evidence of school effects on health and well-being on health and well-being

HBSC 2002 International ReportHBSC 2002 International Report‘‘The Social Context of Young People’s The Social Context of Young People’s Health’Health’

HBSC 2006 International Report HBSC 2006 International Report ‘‘Inequalities in Young People’s Health’Inequalities in Young People’s Health’

See See www.hbsc.orgwww.hbsc.org publications page for publications page for list of journal articles on this topiclist of journal articles on this topic


HBSC contributionHBSC contribution

Understanding the role school can play in Understanding the role school can play in adolescent well-being is a main area of adolescent well-being is a main area of HBSC research activityHBSC research activity

Investigating impact that health and well-Investigating impact that health and well-being can have on school related indices - being can have on school related indices - less HBSC research in this area to date less HBSC research in this area to date

Explaining geographic inequalities in Explaining geographic inequalities in school and health experience – requires school and health experience – requires understanding of social, cultural and understanding of social, cultural and economic determinantseconomic determinants


HBSC future workHBSC future work

Developing a range of indicators to Developing a range of indicators to capture school experience – expanded set capture school experience – expanded set of optional modules in 2009/2010 surveyof optional modules in 2009/2010 survey

Continuing to develop new indicators of Continuing to develop new indicators of adolescent well-being for next survey in adolescent well-being for next survey in 2013/20142013/2014


• Young people we studyYoung people we study

• The HBSC NetworkThe HBSC Network

• The HBSC partner WHOThe HBSC partner WHO

• Funding organisationsFunding organisations

HBSC AcknowledgementsHBSC Acknowledgements

Further information at www.hbsc.org

Documents

Understanding relationships between education, health and well-being among young people: what can the HBSC study contribute? Professor Candace Currie HBSC