hbsc - causes of the causes

Social determinants of health andwell-being among young people

HEALTH BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN

FAMILY COMMUNICATION

Parental communication is one of the key ways in which the family can act as a protective health asset, promoting pro-social values that equip young people to deal with stressful situations or buffer them against adverse influences.

Talk to your mother...

Boys Girls

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0102030405060708090

100

WalesEnglandScotland

Young people were asked how easy it is for them to talk to their mothers about “things that really bother you”. The findings presented here show the proportions who reported finding it “easy” and “very easy”.

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0102030405060708090

100

WalesEnglandScotland

How we compare to Europe15-year-old girls who find it

easy to talk to their mothers

15-year-old boys who find it

easy to talk to their mothers

Talk to your father...

Boys

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0102030405060708090

WalesEnglandScotland

Girls

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

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WalesEnglandScotland

Young people were asked how easy it is for them to talk to their fathers about “things that really bother you”. The findings presented here show the proportions who reported finding it “easy” and “very easy”.

How we compare to Europe15-year-old girls who find it

easy to talk to their fathers

15-year-old boys who find it

easy to talk to their fathers

PEER RELATIONSHIPS

According to previous HBSC findings, the frequency of spending time out with friends increases gradually with age. This is often associated with risk behaviours.

Be back before curfew...

Boys Girls

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

05

1015202530354045

EnglandScotlandWales

Young people were asked how many evenings per week they usually spend out with their friends. The findings presented here show the proportions who reported spending four or more evenings per week out with friends.

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

05

101520253035404550

EnglandScotlandWales

How we compare to Europe15-year-old girls who spend four or more evenings per week out with friends

15-year-old boys who spend four or more evenings per week out with friends

LIKING SCHOOL

“Liking school” has consequently been identified as a protective factor against health-compromising behaviours including bullying, sexual risk-taking and tobacco, alcohol and drug use. Students who dislike school or do not feel connected to it are more likely to fail academically, drop out and have mental health problems.

We don’t need no education...

Boys Girls

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

WalesEnglandScotland

Young people were asked how they feel about school at present. The findings presented here show the proportion reporting that they like school a lot.

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

05

101520253035404550

WalesEnglandScotland

How we compare to Europe

15-year-old girls who like school a lot 15-year-old boys who like school a lot

PRESSURED BY SCHOOLWORK

Feeling pressured or stressed by schoolwork may not only negatively affect students’ learning, but can also influence a wide range of non-academic outcomes such as health, health behaviour and well-being. Affected students characteristically engage in more health-compromising behaviours (such as smoking, drinking alcohol and drunkenness).

Under pressure

Boys Girls

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

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80

EnglandWalesScotland

Young people were asked how pressured they feel by the schoolwork they have to do. The findings presented here are the proportion who reported feeling pressured by schoolwork either “a lot” or “some”.

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

EnglandWalesScotland

How we compare to Europe

15-year-old girls who like school a lot 15-year-old boys who like school a lot

CLASSMATE SUPPORT

Low perceived classmate support is related to somatic and psychological health complaints, such as headache, abdominal pain and depressed mood, and greater prevalence of smoking and drinking. High support is associated with high life satisfaction, increased self-efficacy and increased levels of physical activity.

My friends like me...

Boys Girls

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0102030405060708090

WalesScotlandEngland

Young people were asked to show how much they agreed or disagreed with the statement “most of the students in my class(es) are kind and helpful”. The findings presented here show the proportion who agreed or strongly agreed.

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

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10

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WalesScotlandEngland

How we compare to Europe15-year-old girls who agree that their classmates are kind and helpful

15-year-old boys who agree that their classmates are kind and helpful

MEDICALLY ATTENDED INJURIES

Injuries during adolescence can be seen as a marker for a high-risk lifestyle that includes multiple risk-taking behaviours and associated health-related consequences. Studies have reported how injury is linked with other risk behaviours such as substance use and truancy and is related to frequent engagement in physical activity.

Ouch, that hurt...

Boys Girls

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

05

101520253035404550

ScotlandEnglandWales

Young people were asked how many times during the last 12 months they had been injured and had to be treated by a doctor or nurse. The findings presented here depict the proportions who reported having a medically attended injury at least once.

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0

10

20

30

40

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60

70

ScotlandEnglandWales

How we compare to Europe15-year-old girls who report at least one medically attended injury in the last months

15-year-old boys who report at least one medically attended injury in the last months

BREAKFAST CONSUMPTION

Skipping breakfast is nevertheless very common among young people in Europe, Canada and the United States and is associated with risk behaviours such as smoking, alcohol consumption and sedentary behaviours.

Go to work on an egg...

Boys Girls

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0102030405060708090

ScotlandEnglandWales

Young people were asked how often they eat breakfast, defined as “more than a glass of milk or fruit juice”, on school days and at weekends. The findings presented here are the proportions reporting eating breakfast every school day.

11 year olds

13 year olds

15 year olds

0102030405060708090

ScotlandEnglandWales

How we compare to Europe15-year-old girls who eat breakfast every school day

15-year-old boys who eat breakfast every school day