Children's perspectives on health-promoting living environments: The significance of social capital

Youth involvement in policy processes in public health, education, and social work-A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Youth involvement in policy formulation may enhance its relevance, strengthen democratic practices, and contribute to youth development. This scoping review explored the nature, extent, and impact of adolescent involvement in policy processes aimed at improving adolescent health and well-being in the public health, education, and social work sectors.

METHODS

Studies of adolescent involvement in policy processes focusing on health, and well-being, including obesity prevention were eligible. We searched seven databases, reference lists of included studies, and contacted key organizations. Standard scoping review methods were applied. The results were synthesized narratively, using descriptive statistics and visuals.

RESULTS

We included 33 mostly qualitative studies, mainly from the public health sector in the USA and Europe, focusing on diet, physical activity, health & well-being, or sexual and reproductive health. Adolescents were consulted or collaborated with, mostly in identifying problems or policy solutions and less often in agenda-setting, decision-making, and evaluation. Various facilitators were used to improve participation (e.g. training, adult facilitators, monetary compensation). Data on adolescents' experiences of involvement and the impact on policies were limited.

CONCLUSION

Due to a paucity of impact studies, we could not determine whether adolescent involvement increased the relevance of policies or improved adolescent development. The extent to which adolescents were meaningfully involved, and had a material effect on decision-making, was largely unclear. Improved documentation, monitoring, and evaluation of youth involvement in policy using quantitative methods and standardized frameworks, can improve the evidence-based, involvement practices, and decrease inequities.

Children's perspectives on health and wellbeing: A concept mapping study

PURPOSE

Children's needs and perspectives regarding health and wellbeing are rarely considered in public health care services. To improve preventive youth health care, the aim of this study was to gain knowledge about children's perspectives on health and wellbeing.

DESIGN AND METHODS

In a concept mapping study, Dutch children, 9-12 years old in primary schools (N = 82), generated ideas regarding health or wellbeing and sorted and rated these ideas on importance. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering were done in program R. Qualitative analyses determined the final concept maps. Subsequently, we conducted four focus groups about these maps with nurses and physicians.

RESULTS

For the concept "health", children (n = 33) generated 309 statements in 7 themes: 1) healthy living environment, 2) food and drinks, 3) important for a healthy life, 4) leisure time and relaxation, 5) physical diseases and cure, 6) necessities to be healthy, 7) love and affection. For the concept "wellbeing", children (n = 49) generated 435 statements in 9 themes: 1) negative influence on feelings, 2) feeling connected with friends and family, 3) unpleasant feelings, 4) positivity and enjoyable activities, 5) bad experiences and things, 6) problems with friends and family, 7) social media and gaming, 8) puberty and sexuality, 9) tasty food and drinks. Professionals (N = 16) had a more risk-oriented perspective on health and wellbeing than children.

CONCLUSIONS

Children have a wide variety of perceptions of what is important for their health and wellbeing.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Children's perceptions could inform preventive youth health care services to better adapt to children's needs.

Exploring young people's views of their local area related to the 20-minute neighbourhood policy: a national cross-sectional study

This study aimed to examine how young people subjectively perceive their local neighbourhoods and compare these perceptions with objective data regarding access to amenities aligned with features of the 20-minute neighbourhood (20MN) policy. Objective data (n:287 aged 12-18 years) were gathered through an online adaptation of the Place Standard Tool for Young People in Scotland. Subjective data concerning access to ten amenities in line with the 20MN concept, along with crime statistics, area-level deprivation and urbanicity were spatially linked. The association between perceptions of localities and factors such as gender, as well as both subjective and objective neighbourhood assessments were examined. Young people were most satisfied with nature and active travel in their local area. Conversely, their satisfaction was lowest for active travel to school. Rural young people were more dissatisfied with their localities. Agreement was observed between satisfaction with their 20 neighbourhoods and objective data indicating the presence of frequent public transportation, recreational spaces, and access to services. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of amenities in healthy urban planning, showing a positive impact on young people's perceptions. Additionally, we uncover a connection between crime perceptions and area-level crime variables, potentially influencing health outcomes.

Professional Perspectives on Children's Health Assets: A Delphi Study

This study aims to describe a local community expert's perspective on the identification of and access to children's health assets and to gather proposals to promote children's health and well-being within their community. The health asset approach is essential for health promotion, and there is evidence of its benefits to individuals' or communities' health when this approach is observed. Children's health assets are gaining increasing interest, but the literature that captures the perception of professionals working with children is scarce. Qualitative research designed with Delphi methodology was carried out with the participation of 25 professionals working in a neighbourhood with children and families. The participants stated that this neighbourhood was a good environment for the healthy and happy growth of children but pointed out that there were inequities. They emphasised the importance of economic and physical security and feeling loved. The absolute best aspects of the neighbourhood according to these experts were its support networks, mutual help, educational and health services, and green spaces, and the most deficient aspects were the possibility of a hopeful future and emotional support within the family unit. Poverty and/or the scarcity of economic resources were identified as the main barriers to accessing health assets. Special difficulties in access to health for migrant and Roma children were also identified. The panel of experts made concrete action proposals. It was recommended to support resources and services that already exist in their community. The experts prioritised work with families, education, working in conjunction with vulnerable groups, community participation, and networking.

Preventive health behaviors among the middle-aged and elderly in China: Does social capital matter?

This study explores the status quo of preventive care use and social capital among middle-aged and elderly people (≥45 years old) in China, and employs a multi-level model to analyze whether social capital at different levels is associated with preventive care use. The data are derived from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which includes 11,503 respondents and 450 communities. Preventive care use covers the utilization of routine physical examination services. Individual social capital is measured by the level of social network and social activities participation. Social network includes contacting with children or other people, for example, by phone, text message. Social activities participation is measured by the involvement in social activities, for example, playing mahjong, going to community club. Community social capital is evaluated by the richness of community facilities. Results reveals that the utilization of preventive care is 48.94% among middle-aged and elderly in China. The most used preventive service is routine blood test. The intra-class correlation (ICC) coefficient indicates that preventive health behaviors of the respondents are clustered at communities where they live. Multi-level regression shows that influence of social network is not significant to preventive care use (p ＞ 0.05). Community facilities and individual social activities participation are significantly associated with preventive care use (p < 0.05). The association between social capital and preventive care use could be considered as an important factor when making policies to promote preventive care use.

Perceptions of health among school-aged children living in socially vulnerable areas in Sweden

Introduction

According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children have the right to health. Since good health is a decisive factor for children's future, investing in children's health is important, especially children from vulnerable areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of health among school-aged children from socially vulnerable areas.

Methods

The study has an explorative mixed-method design with a participatory and inductive approach based on focus group interviews with children and youth leaders, respectively, at Multi-activity Centers in three of the vulnerable areas in Malmö Municipality, as well as results from the Multi-activity Centers' own questionnaire. The data has been analyzed with inductive and deductive content analysis.

Results

The children and the youth leaders described health in terms of well-being, participation, and activity. Well-being included feeling good and safe, having a healthy body, and having fun by doing things together with friends and leaders. Participating in activities was described as having a feeling of involvement, being able to have an influence on the organization of the activities and participating on one's own terms.

Discussion

The result of this study shows that participating in activities increases the child's sense of well-being.

Children's perceptions of environment and health in two Scottish neighbourhoods

This article explores children's understanding of the role that neighbourhood plays in their health and well-being. Whilst evidence exists on the relationship between the environment and children's health, we have little knowledge of this from the perspective of children themselves. Children's experiences are all too frequently researched through the eyes of adults. Following a Rights of the Child framework, respecting children's views and giving them due weight, this paper reports from a project that worked with children from two relatively deprived urban neighbourhoods in Scotland. Using this framework, the children themselves were the researchers who designed the themes, decided upon the methods, conducted the research and analysed the resulting data. Using focus groups, visual mapping and community walks the children explored their local neighbourhoods and the findings reveal features of the environment that the children perceive as important for their health and well-being. The children selected three themes to explore in the research: safety, littering, and family and friends, through which they elicit their experiences, feelings and attitudes towards the environment and their well-being. The paper reveals that not only do the children have a deep understanding of the link between environment and health, but that they also understand how aspects of disadvantage, including place-based stigma, can limit their social participation and inclusion in society. We conclude with recommendations made by the children themselves, ranging from access to affordable activities, improved open spaces, 'support not stigma' and the need to be heard in local decision making.

Study Protocol: Social Capital as a Resource for the Planning and Design of Socially Sustainable and Health Promoting Neighborhoods- A Mixed Method Study

Introduction: Promoting inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals ratified in 2015 by 193 UN member states, not least in Sweden. Social sustainability involves preserving particular societal values (e.g., local identity) as well as developing values (e.g., social cohesion) that are perceived as needed. Socially sustainable development also implies promoting integration and preventing segregation. Social capital is one important indicator to measure how socially sustainable an area is. This project aims to explore how social capital can be used as a conceptual tool in developing housing policy for social sustainability in Umeå Municipality.

Methods: The three sub-studies in this project combine quantitative and qualitative methods. We will conduct a review of the municipality's documents to understand how the ideas of social sustainability have influenced political declarations and implemented social and housing policies and interventions during the period 2006–2020. The quantitative study includes a longitudinal follow-up to the 2006 survey's respondents to assess the longitudinal impacts of neighborhood social capital on health and well-being; as well as a new repeated cross-sectional survey to investigate how social capital has changed in local neighborhoods from 2006 to 2020. The qualitative study includes case studies in neighborhoods with different social capital dynamics to understand how different resident sub-groups perceive their neighborhoods and how implemented social and housing policies have influenced the social capital dynamics and responded to the needs of different sub-groups. The project is run in close collaboration with the Commission for a Socially Sustainable Umeå.

Discussions: This project will create new and unique perspectives on long-term structural changes of relevance for a socially sustainable housing policy; knowledge that is highly valuable for continuous municipal planning; and will outline recommendations to guide local housing policies for social sustainable neighborhoods in Umeå Municipality.

Ethics: This study has been assessed and approved by the Swedish Ethics Review Authority (Dnr: 2019-04395; Dnr: 2020-00160; Dnr 2020-02757).

Dissemination: The dissemination goals of this project are (1) sustained engagement of key stakeholders throughout the project and (2) dissemination of the research findings through popular science, conferences, and scientific papers.