Health Behavior in School-Aged Children, 1995-1996: [United States]

Since 1982, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional
Office for Europe has sponsored a cross-national, school-based study
of health-related attitudes and behaviors of young people. These
studies, generally known as Health Behavior in School-Aged Children
(HBSC), are based on nationally independent surveys of school-aged
children in as many as 30 participating countries. The HBSC studies
were conducted every four years since the 1985-1986 school year. The
United States was one of three countries chosen to implement the
survey out of cycle. The data available here are the results of the
United States study from the 1995-1996 school year. The study results
can be used as stand-alone data, or to compare to the other countries
involved in the international HBSC. The HBSC study has two main
objectives. The first objective is to monitor health-risk behaviors
and attitudes in youth over time to provide background and identify
targets for health promotion initiatives. The second objective is to
provide researchers with relevant information to understand and
explain the development of health attitudes and behaviors through
early adolescence. The study contains variables dealing with many
types of drugs such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine,
inhalants, hallucinogens, and over-the-counter medications. The study
also examines a person's health and health behaviors such as eating
habits, depression, injuries, anti-social behavior including questions
concerning bullying, fighting, using weapons, and how one deals with
anger. There are also questions concerning problems with attention
span at school and opinions about school itself.