A comparative study of life skills, lifestyle habits and academic performance in health promoting and non-health promoting schools in the Autonomous Community of Aragon, Spain

PeerJ

article

Beatriz Sánchez-Hernando¹  Ángel Gasch-Gallén²  Isabel Antón-Solanas²  Vicente Gea-Caballero⁴  Raúl Juárez-Vela⁴  Javier Gállego-Diéguez⁷  María Inmaculada Carboneres-Tafaner⁸  Emmanuel Echániz-Serrano³  Laura Lasso-Olayo³  Ivan Santolalla-Arnedo⁶ 

[1] Health Center “Amparo Poch”, Aragon Health Care System;Aragón Health Research Institute, Nursing Research Group in Primary Care of Aragon;Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza;PBM Research Group, Research Institute IdiPaz;Faculty of Health Sciences, International University of Valencia;School of Nursing., Research Group in Cares GRUPAC., Universidad de La Rioja;Head of the Information, Transparency and Participation Service, Health Department.;CEIP Mare de Deu de la Vallivana.;Research Group Cultural Transferences and International Projection of Aragonese Culture

关键词: Health education;    Health promotion;    Adolescent;    Schools;    Self-Efficacy;    Social skills;    Habits;    Academic performance;    Public health;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.13041

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background There is insufficient evidence about the impact of health promoting schools on the student’s health and academic performance. The aim of this study was to compare the life skills, lifestyle habits and academic performance of 7th and 8th grade students registered in health promoting and non-health promoting schools in the Autonomous Community of Aragon. Methods An observational, descriptive, comparative study of the life skills, lifestyle habits and academic performance of 7th and 8th grade students registered in 43 randomly selected health promoting and non-health promoting schools was carried out. We used an adapted tool, which was validated through the expert panel technique, to evaluate the students’ life skills (self-efficacy, social skills and affect balance), lifestyle habits (diet, sleep, physical exercise, use of screen and substance abuse) and academic performance. Results The socioeconomic level of the mothers and fathers of the students who attended non-health promoting schools was significantly higher than that of the parents of the adolescents who attended health promoting schools (p < 0.001). The students who attended non-health promoting schools had better self-efficacy, led a healthier life generally and achieved better academic results (p = 0.03). Conclusions As opposed to previous studies, which found a positive association between health promoting schools and life skills, lifestyle habits and academic performance, our findings suggest that the impact of these health programs on the students’ health and academic performance is limited. We recommend that the degree of implementation of health promotion programs in health promoting schools is systematically evaluated, and the health promoting school accreditation process and requirements reviewed, in order to ensure that the health of school children and adolescents is safeguarded and promoted in the short, medium and long term.

【 授权许可】

CC BY