Developing an Instrument to Measure Health Promotion in a Youth Environment: A Pilot Study From a Norwegian Context

Abstract

Due to increased challenges among children and youth, many health-promoting measures have been implemented in Norway. Finding appropriate measuring instruments has been problematic, as most scales measure indicators of mental and physical health, rather than the degree to which an environment promotes health. Existing scales, such as the Sense of Coherence Scale, the Basic Psychological Needs Scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale were applied in a lower secondary school context as part of a health-promoting project. Many students found these scales somewhat confusing or reacted negatively to their wording. The scales, along with a new scale developed to measure health promotion in the environment, were presented to a group of 10 youths during a workshop organized by a voluntary organization. This workshop was part of a health-promoting project aimed at supporting vulnerable youths through group reflections and paid working activities. Based on the feedback from the workshop, the three validated scales were dismissed, and the new scale was further developed and adjusted into two different versions for the contexts of 1) work or other leisure activities for youth and 2) secondary school. The revised scales were piloted in the voluntary organization’s project (n = 107) and in an upper secondary school (n = 267) where a related health-promoting project was implemented. Factor analyses indicate that the scales have good potential, though further validation is needed.

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Author Information
May Olaug Horverak, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Norway
Øyvind Hellang, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Norway
Nadja Sophia Kühn, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Norway
Migle Helmersen, Univeristy of Agder, Norway
Gerd Martina Langeland, Lillesand Upper Secondary School, Norway
Tommy Haugen, University of Agder, Norway