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Well-being among Greenlandic students
1HBSC-Greenland, WHO Cross-National Survey, Frederikssund, Denmark.
International Journal of Circumpolar Health
|March 27, 1999
Summary
Self-perceived health in Greenlandic schoolchildren declines with age, but feeling healthy correlates with happiness and avoiding risky behaviors like smoking and drinking.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Child Health
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Understanding self-perceived health is crucial for targeted health promotion strategies.
- Schoolchildren in Greenland represent a unique demographic for health behavior research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess self-perceived health status and behaviors among Greenlandic schoolchildren.
- To establish a foundation for future health promotion initiatives in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey utilizing self-administered questionnaires.
- Inclusion of public school students aged 11 to 17 years across Greenland.
- Approximately 4,700 students participated in the study.
Main Results:
- Perceived health decreased with age: 56% of 11-year-olds felt "very healthy" versus 25% of 15-year-olds.
- Feeling healthy was associated with positive psychosocial outcomes: happiness, self-confidence, and reduced loneliness.
- A strong correlation was observed between feeling healthy and avoiding health risk behaviors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use.
Conclusions:
- Encouraging positive health perceptions is vital for adolescent well-being.
- Building self-confidence in young people is a key component of health promotion.
- Interventions should focus on fostering a sense of good health to mitigate engagement in risky behaviors.