TY - JOUR
T1 - Peering in
T2 - youth perspectives on Health Promoting Schools and youth engagement in Nova Scotia, Canada
AU - Kontak, Julia C.
AU - Caldwell, Hilary A.T.
AU - Kay-Arora, Margaret
AU - Hancock Friesen, Camille L.
AU - Kirk, Sara F.L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press.
PY - 2022/6/1
Y1 - 2022/6/1
N2 - Health Promoting Schools (HPS) is a whole-school approach that shapes the conditions necessary to support student health and well-being. Youth engagement is recognized as key to HPS implementation, yet research related to the involvement of youth voice in school health promotion initiatives is limited. The purpose of this study was to understand youth perspectives on HPS and school youth engagement. Ten youth (grades 9-10, ages 14-16) were trained as peer researchers using a Youth Participatory Action Research approach. The peer researchers interviewed 23 of their peers (grades 7-10, ages 12-16) on perspectives related to HPS and school youth engagement. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and data were analysed using inductive 'codebook' thematic analysis. Themes related to a healthy school community were mapped onto the pillars of HPS: (i) Social and Physical Environment, (ii) Teaching and Learning, (iii) Partnerships and Services and (iv) School Policies. Participants placed more importance on the social and physical environment of the school including respect, inclusivity, supportive relationships and the design of spaces. Key factors for youth engagement were: (i) safe and supportive spaces, (ii) passion and interest, (iii) using their voice, (iv) power dynamics, (v) accessibility and (vi) awareness. With recognition that youth engagement is a crucial part of HPS, this work provides relevant and applicable information on areas of the healthy school community that are important to youth, and if/how they are meaningfully engaged in school decision-making.
AB - Health Promoting Schools (HPS) is a whole-school approach that shapes the conditions necessary to support student health and well-being. Youth engagement is recognized as key to HPS implementation, yet research related to the involvement of youth voice in school health promotion initiatives is limited. The purpose of this study was to understand youth perspectives on HPS and school youth engagement. Ten youth (grades 9-10, ages 14-16) were trained as peer researchers using a Youth Participatory Action Research approach. The peer researchers interviewed 23 of their peers (grades 7-10, ages 12-16) on perspectives related to HPS and school youth engagement. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and data were analysed using inductive 'codebook' thematic analysis. Themes related to a healthy school community were mapped onto the pillars of HPS: (i) Social and Physical Environment, (ii) Teaching and Learning, (iii) Partnerships and Services and (iv) School Policies. Participants placed more importance on the social and physical environment of the school including respect, inclusivity, supportive relationships and the design of spaces. Key factors for youth engagement were: (i) safe and supportive spaces, (ii) passion and interest, (iii) using their voice, (iv) power dynamics, (v) accessibility and (vi) awareness. With recognition that youth engagement is a crucial part of HPS, this work provides relevant and applicable information on areas of the healthy school community that are important to youth, and if/how they are meaningfully engaged in school decision-making.
KW - Comprehensive School Health
KW - health education
KW - health promotion
KW - school health
KW - youth participation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85134790014&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85134790014&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/heapro/daac081
DO - 10.1093/heapro/daac081
M3 - Article
C2 - 35862775
AN - SCOPUS:85134790014
SN - 0957-4824
VL - 37
JO - Health Promotion International
JF - Health Promotion International
IS - 3
ER -