Concept and methodology of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study - Insights into the current 2022 survey and trends in Germany

Kristina Winter; Irene Moor; Jenny Markert; Ludwig Bilz; Jens Bucksch; Kevin Dadaczynski; Saskia M Fischer; Ronja M Helmchen; Anne Kaman; Juliane Möckel; Katharina Rathmann; Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer; Franziska Reiß; Theresa Schierl; Raphael Schütz; Saskia Sendatzki; Elisabeth Stürmer; Gorden Sudeck; Matthias Richter; HBSC Study Group Germany

doi:10.25646/11878

Concept and methodology of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study - Insights into the current 2022 survey and trends in Germany

J Health Monit. 2024 Mar 4;9(1):99-117. doi: 10.25646/11878. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Authors

Kristina Winter^{1

2}, Irene Moor¹, Jenny Markert¹, Ludwig Bilz³, Jens Bucksch⁴, Kevin Dadaczynski^{5

6

7}, Saskia M Fischer³, Ronja M Helmchen^{5

6}, Anne Kaman⁸, Juliane Möckel⁴, Katharina Rathmann^{5

6}, Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer⁸, Franziska Reiß⁸, Theresa Schierl⁹, Raphael Schütz³, Saskia Sendatzki^{5

6}, Elisabeth Stürmer³, Gorden Sudeck^{10

11}, Matthias Richter⁹; HBSC Study Group Germany

Affiliations

¹ Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale).
² Hochschule Nordhausen - University of Applied Sciences.
³ Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg.
⁴ Heidelberg University of Education.
⁵ Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Department of Health Sciences.
⁶ Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Public Health Centre Fulda.
⁷ Leuphana University Lueneburg.
⁸ University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.
⁹ Technical University Munich.
¹⁰ University of Tübingen, Institute of Sports Science.
¹¹ University of Tübingen, Interfaculty Research Institute for Sports and Physical Activity.

PMID: 38559683
PMCID: PMC10977469
DOI: 10.25646/11878

Abstract

Background: Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) is one of the largest international studies on child and adolescent health and cooperates with the World Health Organization (WHO). In Germany, adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 are surveyed every four years about their health, health behaviour and social conditions. This article describes the HBSC study and in particular the methodology of the current 2022 survey and prior surveys conducted between 2009/10 and 2017/18.

Method: 174 schools with a total of 6,475 students participated in the 2022 survey. The survey was conducted using questionnaires and covered a wide range of topics (including mental health, physical activity, bullying experiences, social determinants of health and experiences related to COVID-19). The 2022 survey was complemented by a school principal survey (N = 160). In addition to the current sample, the samples of the three previous surveys with representative data for Germany are presented: 2009/10 (N = 5,005), 2013/14 (N = 5,961) and 2017/18 (N = 4,347).

Discussion: The health of children and adolescents is of great public health importance. The HBSC study makes a substantial contribution by providing internationally comparable results, analysing trends, and providing stakeholders with comprehensive and representative health monitoring data.

Keywords: ADOLESCENTS; CHILDREN; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY; GERMANY; HBSC; HEALTH MONITORING; PREVALENCES; SCHOOLS; STUDENTS; SURVEY; TRENDS.

Grants and funding

Only funds from the following institutions (in alphabetical order) were used to conduct the national HBSC study 2022: Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (Prof. Dr. Ludwig Bilz), Fulda University of Applied Sciences (Prof. Dr. Katharina Rathmann, Prof. Dr. Kevin Dadaczynski), Heidelberg University of Education (Prof. Dr. Jens Bucksch), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Dr. Irene Moor), Technical University of Munich (Prof. Dr. Matthias Richter), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer), University of Tübingen (Prof. Dr. Gorden Sudeck). Partial funding was provided for the additional state samples in Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg (in Saxony-Anhalt by IKK gesund plus, in Brandenburg by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MBJS) and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Integration and for Consumer Protection (MSGIV) as well as AOK Nordost).