Health Behavior in School-Aged Children, 1997-1998 [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 independent national 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
data available here are from the results of the United States survey
conducted during the 1997-1998 school year. The study results can be
used as stand-alone data, or to compare with 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 data and to
identify targets for health promotion initiatives. The second
objective is to provide researchers with relevant information in order
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 other health behaviors
such as eating habits, body image, health problems, family make-up,
feelings, bullying, fighting, bringing weapons to school, personal
injuries, and opinions about school.