Language of Health of Young Australian Adults: A Qualitative Exploration of Perceptions of Health, Wellbeing and Health Promotion via Online Conversations
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Online Conversations
2.2. Recruitment
2.3. Data Collection
2.4. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Participant Characteristics
3.2. Thematic Analysis
3.2.1. Theme 1: Perceptions of Health and Wellbeing through the Lens of Emerging Adults
3.2.2. Theme 2: Competing Demands and Priorities Limiting Health-Enhancing Behaviours
3.2.3. Theme 3: Transformation of Identity in Emerging Adulthood
3.2.4. Theme 4: Promotion of Health-Enhancing Behaviours Needs to Be Different and Tailored
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A. LeximancerTM Generated Concept Maps
References
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Forum/Challenge | Discussion Guide | Logic of Inquiry |
---|---|---|
Forum 4: Healthy Lifestyle | Now this is a very broad question, so very broad answers welcome. I really want to understand how you approach the topic of ‘health and well-being’. It might be that some of you think about it a lot, it might that some of you never do and that’s fine. We just want to know how you approach it. So please share: ● What does the term ‘healthy or well-being’ mean to you? What are some of the first things that come to mind? And how do you feel when you hear this term? ● Is ‘health and well-being’ different for young adults? How? How has it changed for you over the years? ● Do you think about your health? Some of you have already shared things about your health... What other lifestyle activities are you thinking about changing or doing?For example, I know that I need to exercise more and I want to. I think about it all the time… and yet do nothing about it. ● Do you think that this will change over the next couple of years? How? Please be as detailed as you can so we can understand why you’re saying what you’re saying. Otherwise, we’ll be commenting asking for more. | To set the scene, gather participants’ perspectives on how health is framed in the young adult’s lives and explore their perceived change of perspectives over time in relation to importance, priorities and concerns during the period of emerging adulthood |
Forum 14: The Healthy Eating Guide | Shown photo of the Australian Guide to Healthy eating. Asked the following questions: 1. Have you ever seen this guide before? 2. When you look at this image, what is the first thing that comes to mind? 3. Is this how you think about what you eat? 4. If you had to describe this to one of your younger siblings or cousin, how would you describe it? | To present a national healthy eating communication strategy and understand participants’ awareness and engagement with the messages; and using hypothetical teach-back scenario to gather how participants understand the healthy eating message |
Challenge 1: My Campaign | Let’s get creative! Your mission is to get young adults like yourselves to take increase their daily fruit and vegetable consumption. Here’s the catch - you’re not allowed to just use advertising like TV ads/commercials or web ads - we want you to really think outside the square! Think about content videos, articles, games, competitions, celebrities and so on. Post your idea below. Once you’ve done this, please read the other ideas and like all those you find would be effective with you. GO! :) | To facilitate discussion on creating communication strategies for healthy messages that resonates with the young adults. |
Variable | Category | n Participants (% of Total) | Mean (Standard Deviation) |
---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | 20.9 (2.2) | ||
18–21 | 91 (55.8%) | ||
22–24 | 72 (44.2%) | ||
Gender identity | Female | 99 (60.7%) | |
Male | 63 (38.7%) | ||
Non-binary/genderfluid/genderqueer | 1 (0.6%) | ||
Body mass index (BMI) kg/m2 | 24.6 (6.0) | ||
Underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) | 17 (10.4%) | ||
Healthy weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2) | 88 (54.0%) | ||
Overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2) | 35 (21.5%) | ||
Obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) | 23 (14.1%) | ||
Currently studying | No | 53 (32.5%) | |
Yes | 110 (67.5%) | ||
Level of current study | High school, year 12 | 8 (4.9%) | |
TAFE, college or diploma | 12 (7.4%) | ||
University (undergraduate course) | 80 (49.1%) | ||
University (postgraduate course) | 10 (6.1%) | ||
Highest level of completed education | High school, year 10 or lower | 1 (0.6%) | |
High school, year 11 | 2 (1.2%) | ||
High school, year 12 | 12 (7.4%) | ||
TAFE, college or diploma | 21 (12.9%) | ||
University (undergraduate degree) | 15 (9.2%) | ||
University (postgraduate degree) | 2 (1.2%) | ||
Location * | Metro | 130 (79.8%) | |
Regional/rural | 33 (20.2%) | ||
Living arrangements † | Alone | 19 (11.7%) | |
Living with own child(ren) | 17 (10.4%) | ||
Other family | 16 (9.8%) | ||
Friend(s)/housemate(s) | 26 (16.0%) | ||
My partner | 35 (21.5%) | ||
Living with parents | 79 (48.5%) | ||
Dispensable weekly income ‡ | Less than $AU40 | 64 (39.3%) | |
$AU40–$79 | 48 (29.4%) | ||
$AU80–$119 | 29 (17.8%) | ||
$AU120–$199 | 11 6.7%) | ||
$AU200–$299 | 8 (4.9%) | ||
$AU300 or over | 2 (1.2%) | ||
I don’t wish to say | 1 (0.6%) | ||
Language spoken at home | English | 121 (74.2%) | |
Language other than English | 42 (25.8%) |
Theme | Description |
---|---|
Theme 1: Perceptions of health and wellbeing through the lens of emerging adults | Overall participants described health as a balance between their physical, emotional, financial, social, cultural and spiritual states. Mental health was highlighted as an important aspect of health, often due to being personally affected by mental health issues. Many stated they were at optimal health status however were at different stages of engagement with health-enhancing behaviours. Short-term tangible often gender-specific benefits—such as appearance and physical activity capacity improvements from health-enhancing behaviours—were more relatable than long-term. |
Theme 2: Competing demands and priorities limiting health-enhancing behaviours | A prominent barrier to performing health-enhancing behaviours was the financial costs of eating healthily, participating in organised exercise and mental health services. Participants also described their lack of time to perform these behaviours due to the prioritisation of other aspects of their lives such as studying, working and socialising. Some participants also described a lack of knowledge and the prevalence of misconceptions around what is actually healthy. |
Theme 3: Transformation of identity in emerging adulthood | Participants were in a self-defined transitional life stage where they were figuring out their identity and creating values. There was prioritisation of identity development over performing health-enhancing behaviours. Many described recent independence, which resulted in challenges related to financial literacy and independent decision making. Participants often described comparing themselves to others particularly via idealised lifestyles portrayed on social media. This comparison either motivated behaviour change or created a pressure to conform. |
Theme 4: Promotion of health-enhancing behaviours needs to be different and tailored | Current healthy eating messages such as the AGHE do not address the barriers they face to healthy eating. The most common strategies described to encourage fruit and vegetables involved incentives and peers. Strategies to address barriers to healthy eating were addressed in the form of free and/or convenient access to healthy food in places they frequent such as university. To grab and maintain attention it was suggested that strategies should provide relevant messages such as benefits of health-enhancing behaviours beyond disease prevention and information to dispel inconsistent messages. |
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Share and Cite
Molenaar, A.; Choi, T.S.T.; Brennan, L.; Reid, M.; Lim, M.S.C.; Truby, H.; McCaffrey, T.A. Language of Health of Young Australian Adults: A Qualitative Exploration of Perceptions of Health, Wellbeing and Health Promotion via Online Conversations. Nutrients 2020, 12, 887. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12040887
Molenaar A, Choi TST, Brennan L, Reid M, Lim MSC, Truby H, McCaffrey TA. Language of Health of Young Australian Adults: A Qualitative Exploration of Perceptions of Health, Wellbeing and Health Promotion via Online Conversations. Nutrients. 2020; 12(4):887. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12040887
Chicago/Turabian StyleMolenaar, Annika, Tammie S. T. Choi, Linda Brennan, Mike Reid, Megan S. C. Lim, Helen Truby, and Tracy A. McCaffrey. 2020. "Language of Health of Young Australian Adults: A Qualitative Exploration of Perceptions of Health, Wellbeing and Health Promotion via Online Conversations" Nutrients 12, no. 4: 887. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12040887