Minister launches Health Behaviour Study for School Children
23 August 2007: Minister for Health Promotion and Food Safety at the Department of Health and Children, Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher T.D., yesterday (22 August 2007) launched the Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study, conducted in 2006 by Principal Investigator Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, and colleagues Dr Colette Kelly and Dr Michal Molcho of the Health Promotion Research Centre, NUI Galway.
The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC) is the Irish part of a cross-national study of children’s health behaviours, attitudes, perceptions and the contexts of children’s health - family life, school, relationships with peers and the local community.
Dr Nic Gabhainn has been Principal Investigator for HBSC Ireland since 1994, and this is the third and largest survey of Irish children's health. Previous HBSC surveys were conducted in the Health Promotion Research Centre, NUI Galway in 1998 and 2002. Findings have been widely used to inform both policy and practice developments in relation to child and adolescent health, nationally, regionally and internationally.
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Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn said: “we in the Health Promotion Research Centre at NUI Galway are delighted by the launch of our third report by Minister Gallagher. This new Irish data show where we have made progress in relation to child and adolescent health, for example in food behaviour, smoking and seat-belt use, but also warns us not to be complacent, there remain worrying levels of alcohol consumption, bullying, injuries and hunger”.
More than 13,000 children from 3rd class in primary school to 5th year (pre-leaving cert) in post primary schools participated in HBSC Ireland 2006, making it the largest and most robust survey of Irish children.
This first report from the 2006 survey includes data on general health and social well-being, tobacco use, alcohol, drug use, food and dietary behaviour, exercise and physical activity, injuries, self- care and bullying. All findings are presented separately for girls and boys, by age groups and by parental social class.
The key findings of the study include increases in: seatbelt use (79%), meeting physical activity guidelines (55%), fruit (19%) and vegetable (18%) consumption. Decreases in ever (36%) and current smoking (15%), 12 month cannabis rates for older boys (24%), sweet (39%) and soft drink (26%) consumption.
There are also small increases in health (87%) and happiness (91%), with a consistent gender gap in favour of boys. There are few changes in bullying (34%) or reported injuries (43%) which are higher in boys, nor in dieting (12%) or not eating breakfast (14%), which are higher in girls. Consistent social class differences remain, particularly for eating and dieting behaviour.
HBSC Ireland has been supported by the Department of Health and Children and is funded by research grant from the Health Promotion Policy Unit and the Office of the Minister for Children.
For further information contact:
Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn 091 493093/086-8585177 or Dr Michal Molcho 091-493668
Email: saoirse.nicgabhainn@nuigalway.ie Web: www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc
The reports are available for download from www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc
Or contact the research team at hbsc@nuigalway.ie
The
population of young people (up to 19 years) in the Republic of
Ireland is 1,140,616. Young people represent 29% of the population,
which is higher than the European average (http://www.cso.ie/).
With such a high proportion of young people, investing in their
health and well-being is essential and HBSC plays a pivotal role
in this regard.
The
Centre for Health Promotion Studies, National University of Ireland,
Galway was invited to join the HBSC network in 1994 and conducted
the first survey of Irish schoolchildren in 1998. The 2006 survey
will be the third time that Ireland is involved in this international
collaboration and will gather information on school-going children
aged 10-18 years. HBSC Ireland is funded by the Health Promotion
Policy Unit and the Office of the Minister for Children, Department
of Health and Children.
If
you would like more information on HBSC Ireland, please send an
e-mail to hbsc@nuigalway.ie
or visit our website www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc.
Principal
Investigator:
Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn
Dr
Saoirse Nic Gabhainn is a lecturer in the Department of Health
Promotion, NUI Galway and Deputy Director of the Health Promotion
Research Centre. Educated in University College Galway Ireland
and the University of Nottingham England, she has been Principal
Investigator of HBSC Ireland since 1994 and sits on the Scientific
Development Group of the international study.
Address:
Centre for Health Promotion Studies
Department of Health Promotion
National University of Ireland
12 Distillery Road
Galway
Ireland
Tel:
+ 353 91 493 093
Fax: +353 91 750 577
Email: saoirse.nicgabhainn@nuigalway.ie
Team
Members:
Dr Colette Kelly - Senior Researcher
Dr Michal Molcho - Senior Researcher
Ms. Marie Galvin - Researcher
Ms. Siobhan O'Higgins - Researcher
Ms Aoife Gavin - Researcher
Ms Larri Walker - Researcher
Ms Aingeal de Roiste - Researcher
HBSC Collaborators
Prof. Cecily Kelleher - Department of Public Health Medicine and
Epidemiology, UCD.
Dr. Brian McGrath - Department of Political Science and Sociology,
NUI Galway
Dr. Kieran Walsh - Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway
Surveys
Conducted:
1997/98, 2001/02, 2005/06
Areas
of expertise:
- Adolescent
risk behaviour
- School
Health Promotion
- Cultural
and contextual factors in health behaviour
Publications and Reports:
National Reports
International Reports
Journal Articles
Books
Other Publications
Factsheets:
Factsheet 1: Smoking behaviour among Irish schoolchildren.
 Download
[PDF - 237KB]
Factsheet
2: Family structure among Irish schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 807KB]
Factsheet 3: Injuries among
Irish schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF format - 197KB]
Factsheet 4: Classmate relationships among
Irish schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 215KB]
Factsheet 5: Drunkenness among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 203KB]
Factsheet 6: Dieting among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 195KB]
Factsheet 7: Oral Hygiene among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 202KB]
Factsheet 8: Bullying among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 202KB]
Factsheet 9: Bullying others among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 197KB]
Factsheet 10: Cannabis use among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 203KB]
Factsheet 11: Relationship with Fathers among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 203KB]
Factsheet 12: Relationship with Mothers among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 201KB]
Factsheet 13: Food Poverty among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 200KB]
Factsheet 14: Health Perceptions among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 199KB]
Factsheet 15: School Perceptions among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 199KB]
Factsheet 16: Emotional well-being among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 201KB]
Factsheet 17: Exercise among Irish Schoolchildren.
Download
[PDF - 165KB]
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