This report presents data from HBSC Ireland 2014, the Irish Health Behaviour in School- aged Children survey. The 2014 HBSC survey is the fifth time that data of this kind have been collected from young people across the Republic of Ireland; previous surveys were conducted in 2010, 2006, 2002 and 1998 (www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc).

HBSC is a cross-sectional research study conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. The HBSC international survey runs on
an academic 4-year cycle and in 2013/2014 there were 44 participating countries and regions. The overall study aims to gain new insight into, and increase our understanding of young people’s health and wellbeing, health behaviours and their social context. As well as serving a monitoring and a knowledge-generating function, one of the key objectives of HBSC has been to inform policy and practice.

Cross-nationally, HBSC collects information on key indicators of health, health attitudes and health behaviour, as well as the context of health for young people. HBSC is a school-based survey with data collected through self-completion questionnaires administered by teachers in the classroom. The HBSC survey instrument is a standard questionnaire developed by the international research network. The areas of interest are chosen in collaboration with the WHO and are designed to help assist developments at a national and international level in relation to youth health.