Results of the health behavior survey of school children (HBSC) in the Republic of Croatia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13112/pc.1177Keywords:
Surveys and Questionnaires; Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking; Screen Time; Violence; BreakfastAbstract
Aim: To describe key health-related behaviours of Croatian school-aged children within the international HBSC framework and to examine national trends from 2002 to 2022, focusing on tobacco and alcohol use, screen time, peer violence, and breakfast habits.
Methods: Data were obtained from the 2021/2022 HBSC survey in Croatia using a nationally representative stratified cluster sample of 5169 pupils (2635 boys, 2534 girls) in 5th and 7th grade of primary school and 1st grade of secondary school (mean age 13.8 years). Pupils participated voluntarily and anonymously and completed a standardised HBSC questionnaire in paper or digital form. Cross-sectional findings for 2022 were compared with previous Croatian HBSC cycles from 2002 to 2018 and with international HBSC averages.
Results: From 2002 to 2022, weekly smoking showed a substantial long-term reduction, falling from around one quarter of pupils in early cycles to less than half that proportion in 2022. Trends in alcohol intoxication diverged: prevalence decreased among boys but rose again among girls in the most recent cycle. Screen behaviour shifted, with a marked decline in excessive television viewing but a pronounced increase in social media use, especially among older girls. Peer violence displayed fluctuating patterns, with recent decreases in victimisation among girls but gradual increases among boys. Daily breakfast consumption declined steadily, most notably among girls. Overall, trends indicate improvements in some behaviours and worsening in others.
Conclusions: Several health behaviours among Croatian adolescents remain suboptimal, including low breakfast frequency, high screen exposure, and persistent peer violence, despite reductions in smoking, alcohol consumption, and television viewing. Age and sex differences underscore the need for targeted prevention and continued monitoring.
References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ivana Pavić Šimetin, Arian Peharda, Dijana Mayer, Tonka Karin
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