‘Nothing Gets Realised Anyway’: Adolescents’ Experience of Co-Creating Health Promotion Measures in Municipalities in Norway

In this study, we aimed to explore how adolescents experience co-creating health promotion measures in four municipalities in Norway. We applied a qualitative design with group interviews (<i>n</i> = 9) among forty-nine adolescents participating in projects related to ‘Program for Public...

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Main Authors: Mari Sylte, Monica Lillefjell, Bodil Elisabeth Valstad Aasan, Kirsti Sarheim Anthun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Societies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/13/4/89
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author Mari Sylte
Monica Lillefjell
Bodil Elisabeth Valstad Aasan
Kirsti Sarheim Anthun
author_facet Mari Sylte
Monica Lillefjell
Bodil Elisabeth Valstad Aasan
Kirsti Sarheim Anthun
author_sort Mari Sylte
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we aimed to explore how adolescents experience co-creating health promotion measures in four municipalities in Norway. We applied a qualitative design with group interviews (<i>n</i> = 9) among forty-nine adolescents participating in projects related to ‘Program for Public Health Work in Municipalities’ (2017–2027). Additionally, participatory observation of project activities was performed in two municipalities. We conducted a data-driven thematic analysis to analyse the data. The most prominent finding was that the adolescents often expressed feelings of resignation and dissatisfaction. Furthermore, we identified four underlying reasons behind the resignation and dissatisfaction. These were related to long project duration, the experience of not having an influence on the outcome, promises not being kept and lack of information and continuity in their participation. Essential features for meaningful participation were not present, and the findings suggest that the municipalities had limited success in facilitating participation that adolescents perceived as meaningful. The findings indicate that despite good intentions and policies supporting children’s participation, effort placed on implementing such policies in practice is still needed. This study adds knowledge regarding important factors to consider when involving young people in co-creating measures to avoid unintended effects such as disempowering adolescents.
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spelling doaj.art-df5a9bf987b54a439400c6db88a95a002023-11-17T21:21:27ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982023-04-011348910.3390/soc13040089‘Nothing Gets Realised Anyway’: Adolescents’ Experience of Co-Creating Health Promotion Measures in Municipalities in NorwayMari Sylte0Monica Lillefjell1Bodil Elisabeth Valstad Aasan2Kirsti Sarheim Anthun3Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, NorwayHUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, NorwayIn this study, we aimed to explore how adolescents experience co-creating health promotion measures in four municipalities in Norway. We applied a qualitative design with group interviews (<i>n</i> = 9) among forty-nine adolescents participating in projects related to ‘Program for Public Health Work in Municipalities’ (2017–2027). Additionally, participatory observation of project activities was performed in two municipalities. We conducted a data-driven thematic analysis to analyse the data. The most prominent finding was that the adolescents often expressed feelings of resignation and dissatisfaction. Furthermore, we identified four underlying reasons behind the resignation and dissatisfaction. These were related to long project duration, the experience of not having an influence on the outcome, promises not being kept and lack of information and continuity in their participation. Essential features for meaningful participation were not present, and the findings suggest that the municipalities had limited success in facilitating participation that adolescents perceived as meaningful. The findings indicate that despite good intentions and policies supporting children’s participation, effort placed on implementing such policies in practice is still needed. This study adds knowledge regarding important factors to consider when involving young people in co-creating measures to avoid unintended effects such as disempowering adolescents.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/13/4/89health promotionpublic healthempowermentchildrenadolescentsparticipation
spellingShingle Mari Sylte
Monica Lillefjell
Bodil Elisabeth Valstad Aasan
Kirsti Sarheim Anthun
‘Nothing Gets Realised Anyway’: Adolescents’ Experience of Co-Creating Health Promotion Measures in Municipalities in Norway
Societies
health promotion
public health
empowerment
children
adolescents
participation
title ‘Nothing Gets Realised Anyway’: Adolescents’ Experience of Co-Creating Health Promotion Measures in Municipalities in Norway
title_full ‘Nothing Gets Realised Anyway’: Adolescents’ Experience of Co-Creating Health Promotion Measures in Municipalities in Norway
title_fullStr ‘Nothing Gets Realised Anyway’: Adolescents’ Experience of Co-Creating Health Promotion Measures in Municipalities in Norway
title_full_unstemmed ‘Nothing Gets Realised Anyway’: Adolescents’ Experience of Co-Creating Health Promotion Measures in Municipalities in Norway
title_short ‘Nothing Gets Realised Anyway’: Adolescents’ Experience of Co-Creating Health Promotion Measures in Municipalities in Norway
title_sort nothing gets realised anyway adolescents experience of co creating health promotion measures in municipalities in norway
topic health promotion
public health
empowerment
children
adolescents
participation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/13/4/89
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AT bodilelisabethvalstadaasan nothinggetsrealisedanywayadolescentsexperienceofcocreatinghealthpromotionmeasuresinmunicipalitiesinnorway
AT kirstisarheimanthun nothinggetsrealisedanywayadolescentsexperienceofcocreatinghealthpromotionmeasuresinmunicipalitiesinnorway