Projektbeskrivning
According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children have the right for health. There are many signs that Swedish children and young people have a good health, but there is an increase in vulnerability, exclusion and mental illness.
Health is affected by many factors, such as economy, migration or parental health, etc. Since good health is a decisive factor for the children's future, investing in children is important.
Aim
The purpose of this study is to develop an PAR intervention, in the “All-activity house” for children with an migrant background located to 3 different socially vulnerable areas in Sweden, Malmö, in order to increase health and well-being in school age-children.
Research questions
1. What activities are related to school aged children’s experiences of health and wellbeing? (study 1a) 2. What experience does school aged children have of participation and decision-making, after participating in a participatory design in developing an intervention? (study 1b)
3. How can an intervention to increase health and wellbeing by activities be organized, in order for young people to want to participate themselves? (Study 1c)
4. What effect on health and wellbeing in the form of; relationships, self-image, coping or sense of connection, can be reported after participating in the intervention? (study 2a)
5. What experience does school aged children have after participating in an intervention to increase health and wellbeing by activities? Study 2b)
Design
This research project consists of two studies:
Study 1 is based on a participatory design, where a focus group of school aged children together with the research group and community workers define what health is and then by participating in activities at the “All-activity house” in Malmö (research question 1-3). Also interviews with the community workers (leaders) for the activities and statistical data from an evaluation about the children and their preferences. Results from this study will form the basis for the intervention (study 2) developing an intervention that can increase health and wellbeing for the children together with them
Study 2 is the evaluation of a pilot study with the intervention developed and before and after measurements. In study 2a, the intervention will be evaluated quantitatively using a number of validity and reliability-tested measuring instruments, that measure various aspects of everyday challenges, such as:
- health
- psychosomatic symptoms
- relationships
- self-image
- coping
- and sense of context (research question 4).
In study 2b, the intervention will be evaluated qualitatively through interviews of participants about their experience of participation, the content and structure of the intervention, as well as their experiences of the effects of the intervention (research question 5).