This report presents data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey carried out in the Republic of Ireland in 2022. This is the seventh time that these data have been collected from young people across the Republic of Ireland.

The topics identified for inclusion in this first report from the 2022 Irish survey are similar to those included in the 2018 national HBSC report. They were identified by the HBSC Advisory Board and are drawn from key national strategy documents including the Healthy Ireland Framework1 and the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan2. Young people were also involved in prioritising topics for inclusion in the report. Topics include general health, smoking, use of alcohol and other substances, food and dietary behaviours, exercise and physical activity, self-care, injuries, bullying (including traditional and cyberbullying), and sexual health behaviours. New topics included in this report are loneliness, sun safety behaviours, menstrual health and period poverty, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic measures. All results are presented by gender, age and social class groups. Statistically significant differences across these groups are highlighted in this report.