A total of 1860 children aged 11, 13 and 15 years from a nationwide random sample of schools completed an anonymous questionnaire on their social backgrounds, social networks, perceived health, life satisfaction, and health behaviour. Boys perceived their health to be better and had fewer psychosomatic symptoms than girls. They also did more physical exercise than girls. Boys and girls showed differences in social networks. Self-reported health status, weekly psychosomatic symptoms and health behaviour (smoking, exercise, and diet) were associated with social networks for both sexes. In particular, a good relationship to adults was found to be associated with positive health behaviour and perceived health.
