Greenlandic children with disabilities experience lower well-being compared to their peers
New report investigates, for the first time, health and well-being among children with disabilities in Greenland.
Children with disabilities in Greenland are more likely to experience health problems, poorer well-being, and they have a higher risk of being bullied, compared to children without disabilities. Further, they report less beneficial health behaviors across several areas.
These are among the findings of a new scientific report by HBSC Greenland and the Center for Public Health in Greenland at the National Institute of Public Health, in collaboration with Tilioq, the Institution and Spokesperson for People with Disabilities in Greenland.
The report is based on responses from 2,180 Greenlandic children in 5th to 10th grade who participated in the 2024 Health Behavior in School-aged Children Survey in Greenland and answered questions about their health behaviors, general health, and well-being.
Nine percent of the children reported having a diagnosed disability or a long-term illness such as type 1 diabetes, juvenile arthritis, ADHD, or impaired hearing or mobility. These nine percent are defined as having a disability throughout the report.
"Most children are generally doing well, however it is obvious that children with disabilities, to a greater extent, experience health complaints and mental health problems. For instance, they more frequently report headache, stomachache, and sleep problems, and they more often feel in a low mood," explains Birgit Niclasen, head of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children Survey in Greenland and one of the authors of the report.
More experience bullying and loneliness
Children with disabilities also report lower self-rated quality of life, more frequent feelings of loneliness, and a higher proportion have tried smoking cannabis.
They also experience more bullying—66 percent of children with disabilities report having been bullied, compared to 54 percent of children without disabilities. Boys with disabilities and the youngest students in 5th-6th grade with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to bullying compared to their peers without disabilities.
However, across several areas, there is no notable difference between children with and without disabilities. A similar proportion participates in leisure activities, most enjoy going to school, and 79 percent in both groups have at least two close family members they can confide in.
The report also shows that children with disabilities spend more time in nature with their families compared to children without disabilities.
Study limitations
International studies demonstrate that around 20 percent of children in the same age group in other countries have a disability or a long-term illness.
According to co-author of the report, student assistant Mie Mølgaard Andersen, this suggests that the present study may not have been able to capture all children with disabilities in Greenland. This may be explained by underdiagnosis or challenges in including pupils from special classes, where a higher proportion of children with disabilities is expected to be found.
"We must therefore interpret the results with caution. It is likely that children with more severe disabilities are underrepresented, as including them in the study requires more resources. At the same time, children from more resourceful families may be overrepresented because they are more likely to receive a diagnosis and to be included in regular public-school classes," she says.
Nevertheless, both authors hope that the report will be an important step toward improving conditions for children with disabilities in Greenland.
"The report is an important start. We hope it can inspire targeted improvements that benefit all children," says Birgit Niclasen.
Facts
Since 1994, the Health Behavior in School-aged Children Survey in Greenland has examined school-aged children’s health in Greenland as part of the international HBSC study. The survey is now conducted every two years in Greenland, meaning the next survey will already take place in 2026.
Contact: Research Leader Birgit Niclasen HBSC Greenland and Center for Public Health in Greenland, National Institute of Public Health, SDU
Telephone +299 523832
E-mail: bivn@nanoq.gl or bivn@sdu.dk