Daily life of young people – School Health Promotion study 2023
Many young people do not eat breakfast or school lunch on school days.
In their responses to the School Health Promotion study, 37 per cent of boys and 47 per cent of girls in grades 8 and 9 of basic education reported that they do not eat breakfast every school day morning. About one third of 1st and 2nd-year students in general upper secondary schools and about one half of 1st and 2nd-year students in vocational institutions did not eat breakfast every school day morning. Skipping breakfast has become slightly more common among girls after 2021.
In 2023, one quarter of boys in grades 8 and 9 of basic education, one fifth of boys in the 1st and 2nd year of general upper secondary education and one third of girls in the same age groups reported that they engaged in vigorous exercise for no more than one hour per week. About one third of boys and almost one half of girls studying at vocational institutions reported the same. Engaging in free-time physical activity has become more common among boys since 2019, while the situation with girls has remained almost unchanged.
The proportion of those sleeping less than eight hours has decreased slightly since 2021 in almost all the age groups. Thirty-one per cent of boys and 41 per cent of girls in grades 8 and 9 of basic education slept less than eight hours on weeknights. Forty per cent of boys and 45 per cent of girls studying in general upper secondary schools and about one half of students in vocational institutions reported that they slept less than eight hours on weeknights.
The School Health Promotion study produces monitoring data on the health and welfare of children and young people and the services provided for them. This statistical report discusses the key results of the year 2023 with regard to daily life of pupils in grades 8 and 9 of basic education and 1st and 2nd-year students in general upper secondary schools and vocational institutions. This statistical report discusses the main results of the 2023 School Health Promotion study with regard to daily life of pupils in grades 8 and 9 of basic education and 1st and 2nd-year students in upper secondary schools and vocational institutions. The results are based on the responses of 151,224 young people. The results are examined in relation to the previous data collection year (2021), during which the COVID-19 pandemic was still ongoing. Longer-term changes are reported when at least three measurement points show a direc-tion in the development of the phenomenon.
Note. Statistical report was revised on 9th September 2024.
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Tables
Background information
- Quality description (Revised on 9th September 2024)
- Privacy notice
- Data description (Aineistokatalogi, in Finnish)
- Data collection
- Previous statistical report (2021)
Description of statistics
The Daily life of young people statistics are based on School Health Promotion (SHP) studies carried out in 2006–2023. The next SHP study will be carried out in 2025.
The respondents of the School Health Promotion study include the following groups:
- Young people in grades 8 and 9 of basic education
- 1st and 2nd year students in general upper secondary schools or vocational institutions
- Children in grades 4 and 5 of basic education – however, their responses are not reported as part of the Daily life of young people statistics.
The data is collected anonymously. The respondents fill out an electronic questionnaire at school during a lesson.
The SHP study contains questions on well-being, inclusion and leisure time, health and functional capacity, lifestyle, school attendance and studies, family and living conditions, safety of the growth environment, and services and access to assistance.
The obtained data can be used to promote the health and well-being of the children and young people and their families, and to develop teaching practices and social welfare and health care services.
Source
Nuorten arki – Kouluterveyskysely 2023
De ungas vardag - enkäten Hälsa i skolan 2023
Daily life of young people – School Health Promotion study 2023
Statistical report 53/2023, 21.9.2023. THL.
More information
Jenni Helenius
tel. +358 29 524 8604
Hanne Kivimäki
tel. +358 29 524 7281
E-mail address: [email protected]