Background: Self-rated health (SRH) is an important single-item variable used in many health surveys. It is a predictor for later mortality, morbidity and health service attendance. Therefore, it is important to study how SRH is influenced during adolescence. The present study examined the stability of SRH over a 4-year period in adolescence, and the factors predicting change in it.Methods: Analyses were based on 4-year longitudinal data from the Young-HUNT studies in Norway among adolescents aged 13–19 years. A total of 2800 students (81%) participated in the follow-up study, and 2399 of these were eligible for data analysis. Cross-tables for SRH at the start of the study (between 1995 and 1997) and 4 years later were used to estimate the stability over the period. Proportional odds logistic regression analyses of SRH during 2000–01 were carried out, controlling for initial SRH, independent variables at the start of the study and changes in the same independent variables over 4 years as covariates.Results: In 59% of the respondents, SRH remained unchanged through the 4-year observation period during adolescence. Fewer than 4% changed their ratings of SRH by two steps or more on a four-level scale. The self-assessed general well-being, health behaviour variables, being disabled in any way, and body dissatisfaction at the start of the study and the change of these predictors influenced SRH significantly during the 4-year observation. Being diagnosed with a medical condition, or specific mental or somatic health symptoms was of less importance for later SRH. Adolescents with more health service contacts at the start of the study, or who increase their attendance rate during the 4 years, report deterioration of SRH.Conclusion: SRH is a relatively stable construct during adolescence, and deteriorates consistently with a lack of general well-being, disability, healthcare attendance and health-compromising behaviour.

Adolescents conceptualize health as a construct related to medical, psychological, social, and lifestyle factors. Positive rating of health was affected in a similar manner to negative rating. However, the absolute importance of hampering positive health may be greater because of the higher prevalence of such health ratings.

Perceived health is an important health predictor, and self-assessed health during adolescence is of great interest. This study examined the relationship between perceived negative health and body image in early and mid-adolescence, focusing on age and gender differences. Analyses were based on Norwegian data from a World Health Organization cross-national survey (Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children) among 5026 pupils aged 11, 13 and 15 years. The response rate was 76%. Stratified analyses with presentations of frequency and relative risk were performed, as well as logistic regression analyses. Girls are more likely to report negative health than boys are, and the probability of such reports increases with age. Girls and older age groups report dieting and dissatisfaction with weight and appearance more often than boys and younger age groups. Body dissatisfaction is associated with an increased risk of perceived negative health, also when controlling for the possible confounding effects of age and gender. The present 'ideals' of weight and appearance might contribute to an unfavourable perception of health in this age group.

Though adolescents with moderate and heavy alcohol consumption are more sociable with friends, abstainers and light drinkers appear emotionally healthier. They succeed to a greater extent in a wide variety of social arenas, particularly in comparison with heavy consumers.

Emotional distress after divorce is not attenuated as divorce prevalence increases, but the deleterious effects of divorce on the well-being of adolescents seem to be confined to those experiencing a concomitant loss of PC. Efforts aiming at reducing parental hostility and improving mutual parental responsibility and care therefore seem important.