Health and health behaviours among Swedish adolescents during a period of social change.
In Sweden there have been cutbacks in the welfare system and increasing unemployment during the 1990s. In what way have these external factors influenced health and behaviour among adolescents? The study describes health profiles and behaviours among students in three schools in Gothenburg, Sweden. Results are based on 2284 self-reports, representing 88% of available students in 7th and 9th grades with mean ages of 13.5 and 15.5 y, respectively. The study questionnaire was administered four times, in 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1996. The reported health and behaviours showed remarkable stability over the period. When the surveys from 1990 and 1992 were aggregated and compared with the surveys of 1994 and 1996 there was a small increase in psychosomatic symptoms, mental health symptoms and risk-taking behaviours. Despite the drastic social changes during the 1990s there was only a small change for the worse in reported health and behaviours. It is possible that the external changes had little impact on adolescent networks, or that the period was too short to have had much impact on health and behaviour.
Grufman
M
M
Department of Paediatrics, East Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden.
Carlsten
C
C
Krabbe
M
M
Berg-Kelly
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012922:Social Change; D013548:Sweden