Nearly nine in ten adolescents say they feel healthy and have a positive outlook on their life, according to the international HBSC survey.
The French adolescence is doing quite well. This is the happy finding that we can establish from the data of the international HBSC (Health Behavior in School-aged Children) survey, carried out every four years in more than 40 countries, and in which 7,000 schoolchildren from 169 French establishments took part in 2014.
The results, published by Public Health France, show that 88% of middle school students feel in good health and 82% have a positive perception of their life. Boys are more likely to express this positive opinion than girls.
Harassment on the decline
Among the positive developments, the survey reveals that bullying seems less frequent, especially in the sixth grade. “The proportion of students who report bullying at a frequency constituting bullying decreased significantly between 2010 and 2014, dropping from 14% in 2010 to 12% in 2014”, specifies the document.
Another reason for satisfaction: several markers of healthy living are favorable. Thus, the number of adolescents who regularly participate in sport is on the rise. The proportion of young people who participate in physical activity five to seven days a week is increasing slightly (from 31% to 34%).
“The increase in the number of middle school students practicing a sport at least four times a week is particularly linked to girls (from 17% in 2010 to 23% in 2014), more at the end of middle school (from 13% to 20% in 4th and from 13% to 23% in 3rd) while the proportion of athletic boys remains stable ”, we can still read.
On the hygiene side, we also note better tooth brushing among French adolescents. Between 2010 and 2014, the percentage of students who said they brushed their teeth more than once a day increased significantly (69% vs. 78%). Conversely, the percentage of students declaring that they brush their teeth only once a day decreases (27% vs. 18.5%). This development is significant at all levels of college, for both girls and boys.
Strong inequalities
However, these positive developments are marked by great social inequalities. In fact, the proportion of middle school students declaring themselves in excellent health is higher in advantaged socio-economic backgrounds (41%) compared to the less fortunate (34%).
Obesity and overweight are more marked among the least advantaged students compared to the more advantaged (18% vs 8%) and the students who say they do not practice any physical activity are also more often from the most disadvantaged families (7,9 % vs 2.4%).
Between 2010 and 2014, the proportion of students consuming fruit and vegetables on a daily basis tended to decrease for everyone, girls and boys (respectively 39% and 44% in 2010 vs. 34% 40% in 2014). However, this consumption is higher in the most advantaged families (68% vs 57%) while the opposite is observed for sugary drinks (26% vs 35%).
Finally, among the less encouraging results, the survey shows a more negative perception of life among girls, more frequent psychological (depression, irritability, etc.) and / or somatic (backache, headache, etc.) complaints, as well. an increase in stress due to school work and a decrease in condom use the last time you have sex.
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