Promoting an Equal and Healthy Environment Swedish Students’ Views of Daily Life at School

• Published in: Qualitative health research Vol. 23; no. 10; pp. 1354 - 1368
• Main Authors: Warne, Maria, Snyder, Kristen, Gillander Gådin, Katja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.10.2013; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Adolescent; Attitude to Health; Constructivism; Educational Status; Female; Grounded theory; Health Promotion; Health Status; Health technology assessment; High schools; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Learning; Male; Quality of life; School Health Services; Schools - standards; Secondary school students; Students - psychology; Sweden; Sweden - epidemiology; Young Adult; Sweden; adolescents / youth; health promotion; photography / photovoice; grounded theory; Europe, Western
• ISSN: 1049-7323; 1552-7557
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732313505914

Education is an important factor in health equity, but many students still do not complete high school. A focus on the school context rather than on individual problems might help to create a supportive environment for health and learning. In this study we explored factors that promote health and learning from the perspective of vocational and low-achieving high school students in Sweden. We used grounded theory with a constructivist orientation, informed and sensitized by the concept of salutogenesis. Students from a school in a mid-sized municipality in Sweden participated, and we collected data using the photovoice method and interviews. Students identified general factors as significant to their well-being and success in school. The main theme, “promoting driving forces for health and learning,” emerged from the categories “longing to be seen by teachers,” “longing for support,” and “longing for recuperation.”