Children and well-being from an international perspective

Abstract

This paper examines well-being in childhood in a historical context, and in the context of the family and school and relationships with parents, based on a large cross-sectional survey. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study (HBSC) is an international survey that has collected data every four years since 1984 from children and adolescents in over 40 countries in Europe and North America. The HBSC study aims to gain new insights into, and increase our understanding of, young people's health and well-being, health behaviours and their social context in three critical points in the life of adolescents : 11, 13 and 15 years old. The study collects data on various aspects of adolescents’ lives, including their perceived health and wellbeing, and relationships with their parents. The findings from the HBSC study indicate that the gender gap in well-being and in communication with parents increases with age. If boys and girls report poorer well-being and communication with their parents as they grow older, these decreases are larger among girls than boys.