The purpose of this study is to develop indicators—which are currently lacking or incomplete—regarding children’s well-being, and it is part of a broader system for monitoring the health of children and young people. It will help guide public authorities in implementing prevention strategies. Participation in this study is essential to establishing a scientific foundation and creating environments conducive to children’s development.

Assessing children’s well-being to address the need for health indicators among 3- to 11-year-olds

Data on the well-being of young children aged 3 to 11 is currently lacking or still very fragmented. The Enabee study aims to:

• measure the state of well-being and the prevalence of various emotional difficulties encountered (mood disorders, anxiety, phobias, emotional issues, learning disorders);

• describe the various dimensions of well-being and their impact on children’s quality of life;

• identify the circumstances and determinants that affect well-being (social, family, economic, health, and environmental factors);

• assess the links between the measured difficulties and other areas of health (e.g., diseases, body weight, child development, health behaviors).

The results of this study will provide indicators on children’s mental health. Complementing existing indicators1^,2, they will offer an overview of the health status of children in France. These results will be anonymous; they consist of population-level statistical data for the relevant age group and do not constitute a tool for individual diagnosis. They are expected to be presented by the end of 2022. Plans to extend the study to the French overseas departments and regions (DROM) are currently being considered for 2023. Conducted at regular intervals, the Enabee study will enable the measurement of changes in children’s well-being and the effects of preventive measures implemented to improve it.

A study conducted in schools to reach the widest possible audience

The national Enabee study will take place from May to June 2022 and aims to survey approximately 30,000 schoolchildren from preschool (PSM) through fifth grade (CM2), randomly selected from 600 public and private schools under contract in mainland France.

To assess children’s well-being and the factors that may affect it as comprehensively as possible, the study will use specific questionnaires to survey children, their parents, and their teachers. After agreeing to participate, parents—or adults living with the child on a daily basis—will be asked to complete a 30-minute questionnaire online or by phone. Starting in first grade, children will complete self-administered questionnaires in their classrooms during school hours. Each classroom session will last approximately 1.5 hours, and interviewers authorized by Ipsos—the service provider responsible for operational implementation—will visit selected schools and classrooms to assist the children and their teachers.

A pilot survey was launched in January 2022 with approximately 1,800 children to test the entire data collection system, its feasibility, and its acceptability. The results notably demonstrated strong support from school administrators, teachers, and children for this large-scale initiative.

Tailored tools to inform and support participants

Santé publique France provides children, parents, and teachers with a variety of informational tools to best inform them about the purpose and conduct of this study.

• An information kit, consisting of posters, brochures, and newsletters introducing the survey, was sent in advance to parents and teachers.

• A website dedicated to the Enabee study, accessible to all, brings together all the useful information needed to support and answer questions from children, parents, and teachers throughout the study and beyond. It will feature, in particular: educational resources, a FAQ section, and areas reserved for participants with access to the questionnaire.

• A toll-free phone number: 08 00 94 25 91 and an email address: contact@enabee.fr are also available to answer participants’ additional questions.

For more information, visit the survey page on our website - Enabee: National Study on Children’s Well-being

Two governing bodies supporting the survey’s implementation

Led by Santé publique France, the national survey on the mental health of young children involves the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Education, and stakeholders working with children and youth.

It is supported by two bodies:

• The Scientific Advisory Committee, composed of child psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, and specialists in child development and learning disabilities, as well as epidemiologists, statisticians, and experts in education and social sciences. Its mission is to clarify and define the study protocol, objectives, methodological framework, and synergy with existing surveys.

• The Steering Committee, which ensures that the survey’s objectives align with the requirements for informing public policy decisions regarding the prevention and management of mental health disorders in children and adolescents, and that the study is conducted under appropriate conditions. It is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Education, the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation, and Statistics (DRES), as well as representatives from civil society, particularly parent-teacher associations and teacher representatives.