This report presents encouraging trends in relation to both risk behaviours and positive health behaviours. There was an overall significant decrease in the proportion of children who report engaging in risky health behaviours such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and bullying others. There was also an overall positive trend in children reporting positive health behaviours such as fruit consumption, tooth brushing, and seat belt use. This report presents trends in sexual health behaviours for the first time. 

P.17 Health Risk Behaviours

• Current smoker
• Age of first cigarette
• Ever been drunk
• Age of first alcoholic drink
• Cannabis use in the last 12 months

Watch the video recording of the webinar on Youtube held on 8th March 2021 to launch the report (38 minutes)

The HBSC have also published interactive data visualisations based on data. These can be used to explore the findings in more depth and from different perspectives, and are available at their website:

• Trends in Health Behaviours 1998-2018
• Trends in Age of Initiation 1998-2018
• Trends in Health Outcomes 1998-2018
• Trends in Social Contexts of Children's Lives 1998-2018