FAQ HBSC 2026
What is HBSC?
The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) is an international research collaboration initiated in 1982 to investigate health behaviours in children and adolescents in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO). Luxembourg conducted its first HBSC pilot survey in 1999 and has participated in the HBSC survey every 4 years since 2006.
The study is based on a survey of secondary schools focusing on the topics of mental health, health behaviours and social context. The data is collected and analysed in cooperation with the Ministère de l’Éducation nationale, de l’Enfance et de la Jeunesse, the Ministère de la Santé et de la Sécurité Sociale the Centre for Childhood and Youth Research (CCY) of the University of Luxembourg, and the HBSC Research Network.
For more information about the HBSC project in Luxembourg, please visit: HBSC.lu
Why have I/my child been chosen?
The Service de Coordination de la Recherche et de l’Innovation Pédagogiques et Technologiques (SCRIPT) randomly selected classes from schools and invited them to participate. The selected classes and participants are representative of the target group of children and adolescents in Luxembourg. Your participation in the HBSC Luxembourg study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between children’s and adolescents’ health, health behaviours, and social context. Findings from HBSC are further used to inform policy makers and professionals working in relevant fields with the aim of improving the health and well-being of young people. Each participant therefore plays an important role in this process!
Is participation voluntary?
Participation in the study is completely voluntary, and non-participation will not result in any repercussions.
Which topics will be covered?
The questionnaire covers several topics, including well-being (such as life satisfaction, health complaints, self-perception [feeling good looking, body image]), feelings of sadness, nervousness, etc., health behaviour (physical activity and leisure activities, dietary behaviour, dental care habits and sedentary habits, use of tobacco and alcohol, height and weight, etc), social context (support and communication with friends and parents, satisfaction with school, injuries, bullying at school, participation in fights, use of social media, etc.). It also includes socio-demographic questions (such as age, gender, migration background, household structure and family affluence).
What is the data used for?
HBSC is conducted in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) that apply to Luxembourg. All answers will be strictly confidential, fully anonymised, and used exclusively for scientific purposes.
The division of tasks between SCRIPT and the University of Luxembourg ensures that participant identification is not possible. SCRIPT selects the school classes participating in the HBSC survey but has no access to the students’ answers. The University of Luxembourg receives the students’ anonymous answers but of which schools, classes, or students have been selected.
The anonymised data will be stored electronically for an indefinite period on servers at the University of Luxembourg and the University of Bergen (Norway) to enable comparisons with previous and future HBSC surveys and other participating countries. Initially, access to the data is limited only to researchers directly involved in the project. After completion of the project, the anonymised data may be made available to other researchers for scientific purposes. The anonymous paper questionnaires will be stored securely at the University of Luxembourg for a period of 10 years, after they will be destroyed.
Where can I find publications from this study?
Publications from previous waves are available on: Publications – HBSC Luxembourg, where you can access reports, factsheets, international reports, journal articles and conference abstracts in English, German and French.
Moreover, to explore key results and trends in health behaviours across time, we invite you to visit our interactive dashboard online: Dashboard – HBSC Luxembourg.
For more information about the HBSC project in Luxembourg, please visit: HBSC.lu
More general information about the HBSC International Network is available on: https://hbsc.org/
Which organisations offer help to children and young people?
Here you can find a document with the contact details for free help and counselling support services: