Examining how contexts shape young children's perspectives of health

• Published in: Child : care, health & development Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 353 - 359
• Main Authors: Irwin, L. G., Johnson, J. L., Henderson, A., Dahinten, V. S., Hertzman, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Attitude to Health; Child; Child Development; Child Health; Child Welfare; Children & youth; children's views; Childrens Attitudes; Eating; Ethnography; Female; Health; health beliefs; Health information; Humans; Male; Motor Activity - physiology; Neighborhoods; Neighbourhoods; Patient Education as Topic; Perceptions; Physical activity; psychosocial factors; qualitative; Research Methodology; Self Care - psychology; Social conditions; Social conditions & trends; social disadvantage; Social Environment; Socioeconomic Factors; Vulnerability; Canada
• ISSN: 0305-1862; 1365-2214
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2006.00668.x

Background We know that the social conditions in which children live exert a strong influence on their health; yet, we do not know how children’s experience of these conditions of daily life shape their perspectives of health. Methods Through ethnographic research methods, the first author spent 1 year with the 14 6‐year‐old children involved in this research and examined how the contexts of daily life influenced the children’s perspectives of health. The children involved in this study all lived in a neighbourhood characterized as having a complex of mid to high range of neighbourhood factors associated with vulnerability. Results The findings demonstrate that the children were able to articulate the health requirements of physical activity and healthy eating that supports their health. However, there was a disparity between the children’s health knowledge, their perceptions and their contextual realities in relation to health. Children spoke of concerns for their physical safety within their schools and neighbourhoods; their lack of free range of play, and that they had few opportunities to play with or get to know neighbourhood friends. Conclusion Professionals in contact with children and families who live in challenging social conditions need to be aware of how these contexts shape children’s understanding of their own health potential.