News

Adolescents’ health in Luxembourg: the 2018 HBSC report publication

  • Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE)
    University / Central Administration and Rectorate
    19 April 2021
  • Category
    Research, University
  • Topic
    Social Sciences

The 2018 report on the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) international survey has just been published. The HBSC survey is organised every four years under the aegis of the World Health Organization (WHO). Involving more than 45 countries, it establishes an accurate picture of the health and health behaviour of adolescents. The “HBSC Luxembourg” survey is a collaborative effort by the ministry of Education, Childhood and Youth, the Ministry of Health and the University of Luxembourg. Dr Andreas Heinz coordinates the research at the University of Luxembourg.

The report focuses on mental and physical health, at-risk behaviour, health-friendly behaviour and the student’s social environment, such as family, friends and school. Attitudes towards school have been studied, and types of health behaviour have been developed. The report contains detailed results from the 2018 survey, in which 8,687 students aged 11 to 18 participated in Luxembourg. It is the fourth survey of this kind since 2006, which also allows for the presentation of trends over a longer period of time and a comparative view on the international level.

The report highlights developments prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of the current health crisis, it is essential to have evidence-based information concerning adolescents’ perceptions and behaviour with regards to their health. The results of the report help identify groups of at-risk children and adolescents with limited individual and social resources to deal with difficult situations.

The key findings are as follows: 

  • The mental health of adolescents has deteriorated over time. Thus, the prevalence of health complaints increased from 34.8% in 2006 to 40.1% in 2018. 
  • Decrease in bullying over time: victims of bullying fell from 13% in 2006 to 8.2% in 2018 / perpetrators of bullying fell from 13.6% in 2006 to 4.3% in 2018.
  • Overweight and obesity have become more common. From 14% of persons in 2006 it rose to 19% in 2018.
  • Decreased physical activity among students. The number of students who exercise at least four times a week dropped to 35.2% in 2018, thus falling below the 2006 rate of 39.6%.
  • Alcohol and tobacco consumption decreased over the years.
  • Cannabis use decreased in younger children but increased in the older 17 and 18-year-olds.
  • 65% of students say they like school. However, 40% of students feel somewhat or even very stressed by schoolwork. The number of young people who find it easy to discuss their concerns with one of their parents has increased slightly.

In general, in Luxembourg as in many countries, the socioeconomic status of parents plays a role in adolescents’ health. For the majority of the indicators analysed, young people from privileged socioeconomic backgrounds show more favourable results. The exceptions are school stress and underweight: here, the most socioeconomically privileged students are the most affected.

Although we see more unfavourable behaviour with regard to their health, boys still report better a state of health than girls.

The analysis suggests that, in general, the youngest (11-12 years) have more favourable results than the older youth groups. Bullying and fights are the only exceptions to this general picture.

At the international level, students in Luxembourg often rank somewhere in the middle. Compared to young people in other countries, adolescents in Luxembourg use contraceptives more often and brush their teeth more often. However, they are more often overweight, girls play fewer sports, and younger children are more often involved in fights.

The 2018 HBSC report can be downloaded from the website www.hbsc.lu, as well as from the Health Portal www.sante.lu

The report’s key points

The mental health of adolescents has deteriorated over time.

Psychosomatic complaints such as nervousness, pain or difficulty falling asleep are considered indicators of mental health. In Luxembourg, as in many other countries, there is an increase in multiple psychosomatic health complaints, which occur every day or several times a week. Prevalence increased from 34.8% in 2006 to 40.1% in 2018. 49% of girls and 31% of boys in Luxembourg are affected. In girls, there is a strong increase with age (from 38% in girls aged 11-12 years to 59% in girls aged 17-18 years).

Decrease in bullying over time. In 2018, 8% of students were victims of bullying.

Although the proportion of students who are victims or perpetrators of bullying has decreased over the years, 8.2% of students were bullied at least twice a month at school, and 4.3% bullied other students at school. Children in primary schools and those on a general education track report bullying most often. 2.6% say they have been bullied online at least twice a month, and 3.2% of students say they have bullied someone online. The results for adolescents in Luxembourg differ little from the average of all the countries in the HBSC survey.

Although between 2006 and 2014 there was a general decrease in the number of students who stated that they were involved in a fight at least once during the past year, the 2018 survey showed an increase compared to 2014, particularly in boys and in primary schools.

Overweight and obesity have become more common.

The number of overweight adolescents increased over time, from 14% in 2006 to 19% in 2018. Also, the proportion of overweight students increases with age. 12% of adolescents were underweight. While boys are more affected by overweight, as are students from less affluent families, girls and students from more affluent families are more affected by underweight. 39.4% of girls consider themselves overweight; in reality, only 15.5% are. In contrast, boys are more likely to underestimate their weight. Thus, we find an erroneous body perception both in girls and boys.

Decreased physical activity among students.

In 2018, 35% of students exercised at least four times a week during their free time. Overall, boys are more likely to be active than girls, but the older the girls and boys get, the less they play sports. While the proportion of students practising a sport increased between 2006 and 2010 (from 39.6% to 43.5%) stabilising in 2014, in 2018 it dropped to 35.2%, thus falling below the 2006 mark. This trend is about the same for both sexes, with generally lower levels for girls. 

Alcohol and tobacco consumption decreased. 

The 2018 HBSC survey shows that 13% of students report smoking cigarettes, and 29% report drinking alcohol during the 30 days before the survey. In addition, 22% of students say they have been drunk at least once in their lives. The frequency of drinking increases with age. Many more boys than girls have been drunk, and boys start drinking alcohol much earlier than girls. Compared to the 2006 situation, students smoke and drink significantly less in 2018. The results for adolescents in Luxembourg differ little from the average of all HBSC-monitored countries.

Cannabis use has decreased among the youngest but has increased among the oldest.

The average age of the consumer has changed over the years: in the youngest (15 years old), the proportion of consumers has decreased, while it has increased in the oldest (17-18 years old). Cannabis consumption increases markedly with age, and older boys are more likely to consume cannabis than are older girls. However, there is an increase in the proportion of older girls who have tried cannabis. The results for adolescents in Luxembourg differ little from the average of all the countries in the HBSC survey.

Attitudes towards school and social support.

65% of students say they like school. However, this percentage decreases with the age of the students. 40% of students feel somewhat or even very stressed by homework. This feeling is more common among girls and older students. The school atmosphere is seen as good (52%) or very good (25%). More than one in two students (55%) believes that the relationship with their teachers is good or very good. This proportion decreases with age.

49% of students feel a very high degree of support from their families, while only 3% feel a very low degree of support. Over time, we see an increase in the percentage of students who feel it is “easy” to talk about their concerns with one of their parents. 44% of students feel a very high degree of support from their friends, only 3% feel a very low degree of support.

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