Well-being of children and young people – School Health Promotion Study 2023

More than one third of girls and one in five boys consider their health average or poor.

The majority of the children and young people who responded to the School Health Promotion survey said they were satisfied with their lives. Pupils in grades 4 and 5 of basic education were more commonly satisfied with their lives than pupils in grades 8 and 9 of basic education and 1st and 2nd-year students in general upper secondary schools and vocational institutions. The proportions of pupils in grades 8 and 9 of basic education and students in general upper secondary schools and voca-tional institutions who were satisfied with their lives had decreased slightly from 2021.

Approximately one third of girls in grades 8 and 9 of basic education, in general upper secondary schools and in vocational institutions found their health average or poor. The corresponding proportions for boys were 16–20 percent. Fourteen per cent of girls and nine per cent of boys in grades 4 and 5 of basic education considered their health average or poor. The proportions of those who found their health average or poor in 2023 were almost unchanged compared with the year 2021.

It was most common for pupils in grades 4 and 5 of basic education (boys 70% and girls 76%) and 1st and 2nd-year students of vocational institutions (boys 83% and girls 73%) to enjoy going to school. Approximately one half of pupils in grades 8 and 9 of basic education and about two thirds of 1st and 2nd-year students in general upper secondary schools enjoyed going to school. In 2023, the proportion of those who enjoyed going to school had decreased from 2021 among everyone except for students in vocational education and training.

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 main results related to health and well-being for the year 2023, based on the responses of 246,747 children and 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 direction in the development of the phenomenon.

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Of pupils in grades 4 and 5 of basic education, 90 per cent of boys and 81 per cent of girls were satisfied with their lives. Of students in grades 8 and 9 of basic education and 1st and 2nd-year students in general upper secondary schools and vocational institutions, 75–79 per cent of boys and 54–61 per cent of girls were satisfied with their lives. Nine per cent of boys and 13 per cent of girls in grades 4 and 5 of basic education found their health average or poor. Of boys in grades 8 and 9 of basic education and in general upper secondary schools and vocational institutions, 16–20 per cent felt the same and of girls, 31–40 per cent. Going to school was most commonly enjoyed by pupils in grades 4 and 5 of basic education (boys 70% and girls 76%) and students of vocational institutions (boys 83% and girls 73%). Of pupils in the 8th and 9th year of basic education (boys 57% and girls 47%) and students in general upper secondary schools (boys 66% and girls 59%), about one half enjoyed going to school. — Indicators describing the well-being experienced by children and young people by gender and school level in 2023, %.

Tables

Background information

Description of statistics

Statistics Well-being of children and young people are based on the results of the School Health Promotion study in 2006-2023. The next data collection of the School Health Promotion study will be carried out in 2025.

The information is collected from

4th and 5th graders from comprehensive school,
8th and 9th graders from comprehensive school,
1st and 2nd graders from upper secondary school and vocational institutions.

The data is collected anonymously. Children and young people fill in an electronic questionnaire at school during a lesson.

Children and young people are asked about their welfare, participation and leisure time, health and functional capacity, lifestyle, school attendance and studies, family and living conditions, safety of their growth environment, and services and access to assistance. The data can be utilised in the health promotion activities for children and young people and their families. It can also be used in the development of teaching and social and health care services.

Source

Lasten ja nuorten hyvinvointi – Kouluterveyskysely 2023
Välbefinnandet bland barn och unga – Enkäten Hälsa i skolan 2023
Well-being of children and young people – School Health Promotion study 2023

Statistical report 50/2023, 21.9.2023. THL.