1. Presentation master thesis – 7th Nordic Health Promotion Research
Conference
Vestfold University College
Health Promotion Learning Environment -
A student’s perspective
How can the learning environment contribute to students’ sense of coping?
Marit Andersen
PPT (pedagogical and psychological counselling service), Horten municipality
e-mail: maritand@gmail.com
Co-author: Grete Eide Rønningen, Associated professor, Vestfold University Cogllege
2. Background
• All students are entitled to a good physical and
psychosocial environment conducive to health, well-
being and learning.
• The Education Act of 17th July 1998, Chapter 9a
• School is an important setting for health promotion
• It is a natural setting where the young people spend the majority of their
time
• Important for their academic, social and personal development
3. Purpose
• To increase the knowledge of what students themselves
highlights as important for their sense of coherence and
coping at school
• To increase the knowledge of how schools can facilitate an
learning environment that promotes a sense of coherence
and a framework that promotes good health
4. Theoretical framework
• The Salutogenic approach
• Antonovskys theory – sense of coherence (SOC)
• Comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness
• Coping
• Contextual, social and emotional factors
• Social support
• The quality of the relationship
• Participation
• Provides the basis of the meaningfulness component
5. Methodology
• Qualitative method
• Five focus groups
• 31 students of in the age 11-12 years – collected from one school
with a population of 66 students in grade 7
Focus group Class Boys Girls Absence
Focus gr. 1 X 5 2 0
Focus gr. 2 Y 4 2 0
Focus gr. 3 Y 3 3 0
Focus gr. 4 Z 3 2 2
Focus gr. 5 Z 5 2 0