What undermines healthy habits with regard to physical activity and food? Voices of adolescents in a disadvantaged community

Abstract

This study aimed to illuminate factors that undermine the healthy habits of adolescents from a multicultural community with low socioeconomic status (S.E.S.) in Sweden with regard to physical activity (P.A.) and food, as stated in their own voices. Adolescents (n = 53, 12–13 y/o) were recruited from one school situated in a multicultural community characterized by low S.E.S. Embracing an interpretive approach, 10 focus-group interviews were conducted to produce data for the study. The focus-group interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The analysis resulted in two major themes: (1) the availability of temptations is large, and support from the surroundings is limited; and (2) norms and demands set the agenda. The adolescents’ voices illuminate a profound awareness and the magnitude of tempting screen-based activities as undermining their P.A. and healthy food habits. Moreover, several gender boundaries were highlighted as undermining girls’ P.A. and healthy food habits. The adolescents’ stories illuminated that it is difficult for them, within their environment, to establish healthy habits with regard to P.A. and food. To facilitate the adolescents’ healthy habits, we suggest that support from family, friends, the school, and society at large is essential.

Empowering aspects for healthy food and physical activity habits: adolescents’ experiences of a school-based intervention in a disadvantaged urban community

“…The intention was to facilitate a feeling of connection and cooperation, and also to enable the researchers to tailor their support to the individual group’s goals and needs. To explore the adolescents’ goals and needs, individual interviews (n = 52) and focus group interviews (n = 10) were conducted during the first semester (Jonsson, Larsson, Berg, Korp, & Lindgren, 2017). Written statements of the adolescents’ individual goals with the intervention were also collected to supplement the interviews.…”

Facilitators of Physical Activity: Voices of Adolescents in a Disadvantaged Community

“…Moreover, the educational achievement scores and the number of students in the ninth grade who pass all subjects are below average [ 25 ]. For a more detailed description regarding the school’s characteristics, see the work of Jonsson et al [ 26 ].…”

“…The interviews lasted for an average of 69 min (range: 44–97 min). The procedures of the focus group interviews appear in greater detail elsewhere [ 26 ].…”

Perspectives on power relations in human health and well-being

“…The perspective of social capital as a resource in a person’s life might enable new ways of empowering people (Brown, 2016). Jonsson, Larsson, Berg, Korp, and Lindgren (2017) investigate factors that undermine healthy habits with regard to exercise and diet among adolescents in a disadvantaged community. Focus-group interviews conducted with 53 adolescents revealed that there are several factors at the individual, social, environmental, and societal levels that undermine adolescents’ chances of establishing healthy exercise and dietary habits.…”

“…Norms and demands from others also set the agenda for adolescents. Boys described how they were expected to participate in physical activities, while girls stated that they were expected to do more domestic work than boys at home (Jonsson et al, 2017). Håman, Lindgren, and Prell (2017) illuminate PTs’ understanding of healthy and unhealthy exercise and eating behaviours in relation to orthorexia nervosa in a fitness gym context.…”