- What is the Student Wellness and Education Survey?
- What is the purpose of this survey?
- When does this survey take place?
- When will the survey results be available?
- Is it mandatory to administer the survey in schools?
- Is it mandatory for students or parents/guardians to participate?
- How do students access the survey?
- How can parents/guardians (K-5) access the survey?
- If parents/guardians have more than one child in grades K to 5, should they fill a survey for each?
- How does the NBHC protect personal information?
- Can I see past results?
- How will the data collected be used?
- In which languages is the survey available?
- Specific questions about the survey
- Whom do I contact if I have any questions or concerns?
1. WHAT IS THE NEW BRUNSWICK STUDENT WELLNESS AND EDUCATION SURVEY?
The New Brunswick Student Wellness and Education Survey is a joint initiative of the New Brunswick Health Council (NBHC) and the Government of New Brunswick’s Department of Health and Department of Education & Early Childhood Development.
The New Brunswick Student Wellness and Education Survey is conducted in all public schools across New Brunswick. It aims to evaluate several aspects of students’ wellness, including their social and emotional development, physical health, substance use, and experiences at school and in the community. Each cycle, over 50,000 students in grades 4 to 12 respond to the Survey. A survey is also sent to parents/guardians of students in grades K to 5.
2. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS SURVEY?
This survey aims to understand and report on several aspects of students’ wellness and education. This information is used by stakeholders to identify gaps and challenges and make informed decisions.
Students in grades 4 to 12 are asked about their experience at school and in the community, their social and emotional development, and their physical health. Students in grades 6 to 12 are also asked about substance use.
Parents/guardians of children in grades K to 5 are also asked about their child’s social and emotional development, and physical health.
3. WHEN WILL THIS SURVEY TAKE PLACE?
The survey is conducted in the fall of each year. Individual schools are responsible for identifying a specific date during the survey period (usually four weeks) to administer the survey to their students.
4. WHEN WILL THE SURVEY RESULTS BE AVAILABLE?
All provincial, zone, sector, district, and community results are available on the NBHC website in the spring following the survey administration. School results are also distributed to school administrators in the spring.
5. IS IT MANDATORY TO ADMINISTER THE SURVEY IN SCHOOLS?
It is mandatory for all schools to administer the survey to their students in grades 4-12 and for districts to distribute survey information to parents/guardians of students in grades K-5.
6. IS IT MANDATORY FOR STUDENTS OR PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO PARTICIPATE?
This survey is voluntary for students and parents/guardians. If students (or their parents/guardians) choose to participate, they can still refuse to answer specific questions in the survey.
If a student does not wish to complete the survey, they can tell the survey administrator or the school administrator that they do not wish to participate.
If parents/guardians do not wish that their child complete the survey, they can tell the survey administrator or the school administrator that they do not wish for their child to participate.
7. HOW DO STUDENTS ACCESS THE SURVEY?
The survey is accessed via an online platform. Links are distributed in the classrooms.
8. HOW CAN PARENTS/GUARDIANS (K-5) ACCESS THE SURVEY?
School districts send the survey to parents/guardians by email. The email includes a link to the survey.
9. IF PARENTS/GUARDIANS HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHILD IN GRADES K TO 5, SHOULD THEY FILL A SURVEY FOR EACH?
We ask that parents/guardians fill a unique survey for each child, since the reality of each child is unique.
10. HOW DOES THE NBHC PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION?
All information collected through this survey is anonymous. No names are associated with the surveys, so the answers to a survey cannot be connected to a student. To ensure privacy, we've assigned each participant a unique, random code. Survey results will be analyzed and reported collectively, without revealing individual responses. Additionally, the survey adheres to the privacy laws of New Brunswick under the Personal Health Information Privacy and Access Act.
11. CAN I SEE PAST RESULTS?
Past results at the provincial, zone, sector, district, and community levels can be accessed from the NBHC website. For school level past results, you may contact your school administrator. Requests for previous EECD Student Survey reports can also be made through your school administrator.
12. HOW WILL THE DATA COLLECTED BE USED?
Schools, districts, and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development can use the results of this survey for their respective planning processes with the aim of improving the educational experience and student wellness in the province.
Public Health can use the results from this survey to monitor the wellness of children and youth.
The NBHC uses provincial, zone, sector, district, and community-level results of this survey to inform New Brunswickers about the wellness of our young population and to support local wellness initiatives.
Additionally, various organizations can use the survey data to develop initiatives and programs. Examples include community or school gardens, breakfast programs, physical activity initiatives, resiliency programs, etc.
13. IN WHICH LANGUAGES IS THE SURVEY AVAILABLE?
The survey is available in the two official languages of New Brunswick: English and French.
14. SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SURVEY
Why do you ask about different backgrounds?
Some of our personal characteristics can be related to experiences of discrimination or to health disparities. For that reason, the NBHC collects and analyzes data by different demographic characteristics. This aggregated data enables organizations and groups of interest to identify areas of improvement based on gaps in the experiences and outcomes for various groups.
Why do you ask about weight and eating behaviours?
Healthy eating is essential for the healthy development of children and youth, and to reduce the risk of obesity and chronic health conditions later in life. Where and when children and youth eat, or not, can have a great influence on their body weight and other related physical and mental health outcomes. Food insecurity can also influence eating habits.
Understanding eating habits, the factors that affect eating habits, and the prevalence of obesity enables schools, communities, and organizations to understand the nutritional needs of their students and develop programs that respond to their specific needs like breakfast programs, school gardening initiatives, etc.
Aren’t some students too young to answer questions about alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs?
Students are asked about the use of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs starting in grade 7. This is because the survey aims to understand how substance use develops from early to late adolescence. By including a broad range of ages, it is possible to better understand when youth usually start using these substances and when their use increases. This information helps in creating better policies and prevention programs. Additionally, using questions that have been tested and validated with youth ensures that they are age appropriate.
Can asking about health risk behaviours such as substance use encourage youth to take part in those behaviours?
According to the research literature (see for example Briney, 2017), asking youth about health risk behaviours, such as substance use, does not increase the likelihood that they will take part in these behaviours.
15. WHOM DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
If you have any questions or would like to have more information about this survey or its results, please call the toll-free number 1-877-225-2521 or send us an email at info@nbhc.ca.