Health Behaviour In School-Aged Children, 1997-1998 [Canada]: A World Health Organization Cross-National Study

The overall goal of the survey is to gain new insights into and to increase our understanding of health behaviours, lifestyles and their context in young people. The study also aims at increasing the understanding of how young people perceive health itself. The "dependent" variables of the study are lifestyle, health behaviour, subjective health and young people's perception of health. <br> The "predictors" are primarily characteristics of the children themselves, of their environment (usually perceived environment) and of the larger society. The project is based on surveys among school-aged children carried out every four years since the 1985/86 survey in a growing number of mainly European countries. <br> A key aim of the study is to develop national information systems on health and lifestyles among young people. The utilisation of the information collected should be scientific as well as practical. Through the involvement of cross-disciplinary groups of researchers in the different countries, it is intended that national groups with considerable expertise in this kind of applied behavioural and social research will develop. Through the interchange and comparison of data, findings, experiences, and ideas, it is expected that this field of research will develop rapidly beyond its present level and status.