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Healthy School Environment to Enhance Health and Well-Being of Students
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Healthy School Environment to Enhance Health and Well-Being of Students

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2022) | Viewed by 18386

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Albert Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: health promotion and disease prevention by minimisation of risk factors/behaviours; enhancement of protective health factors/behaviours using the setting approach; child and adolescent health; community based care for management of chronic disease; education development for professionals in family medicine, primary health care and health promotion, school health; medico-legal issues and use of alternate dispute resolution in health and social services
Dr. Lancelot Wai-Ho Mui

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4/Floor, Lek Yuen Health Centre, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
Interests: nutrition epidemiology diet behaviours of vulnerable populations e.g. drugs addicts and cancer patients; setting based (include rural area) health promotion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues

With the fast-growing economy and rapid pace of urbanisation, we are exposing our young generation to live in a risk society, with increasing ecological and socioeconomic risks and increasing individualisation. A public health approach to child and adolescent health promotion and disease prevention should focus on the improvement of health literacy; health behavioural change; change of environment (physical and social) to be more conducive for health; improvement of public policies for healthy youth development; engagement of stakeholders; and enhancement of services, particularly the accessibility and acceptability. There is now abundant evidence to show the significant impact of the environment (physical and social) on the health of children and adolescents by Social Development Model study, epigenetic studies, and neuro-development studies. 

A healthy school environment would be highly conducive for the healthy development of children as it is a place where they learn and socialise. Many published evaluations of school health initiatives have suggested that the way the school is led and managed; the experiences students have to participate and take responsibility for shaping policies, practices, and procedures; how teachers relate to and treat students, and how the school engages with its local community (including parents) in partnership work actually builds many health-protective factors and reduces risk-taking behaviours. This includes improvement in the school physical and social environment, active promotion of the self-esteem of all pupils by demonstrating that everyone can make a contribution to the life of the school, development of the education potential of the school health services beyond routine screening towards active support for the curriculum, and development of good links between the school, home, and community.

This Special Issue focuses on the cultivation of a supportive school environment to promote the health and well-being of children and adolescents. Papers addressing school health promotion programmes by complex and multi-factorial intervention and innovative activity in many domains such as the curriculum, school environment, and community are invited to contribute to this Special Issue. We welcome papers with practical focus on creating an optimal healthy school environment.

Prof. Dr. Albert Lee
Dr. Lancelot Wai-Ho Mui
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • healthy school
  • health-promoting school
  • child health
  • adolescent health
  • school environment
  • school health promotion
  • health and well-being
  • student health

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2087 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Retail Food Environment Surrounding Two Secondary Schools with Predominantly Pacific Populations in Tonga and New Zealand to Enable the Development of Mapping Methods Appropriate for Testing in a Classroom
by Alvina F. Pauuvale, Mark H. Vickers, Soana Pamaka, Dorothy Apelu, ‘Anaseini Fehoko, Malakai ‘Ofanoa and Jacquie L. Bay
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15941; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315941 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2010
Abstract
Rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are disproportionately high among people of Pacific ethnicity. Nutrition-related environmental exposures including food access and quality contribute to the matrix of factors impacting risk. Preventative interventions in adolescence and the opportunity to integrate health promotion into school-based learning [...] Read more.
Rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are disproportionately high among people of Pacific ethnicity. Nutrition-related environmental exposures including food access and quality contribute to the matrix of factors impacting risk. Preventative interventions in adolescence and the opportunity to integrate health promotion into school-based learning are often overlooked. This study tested the potential of a low-cost method to map the retail food environment in a 1 km radius of two secondary schools in low socioeconomic communities with predominantly Pacific populations, in Tonga and New Zealand (NZ). Mapping utilized Google Earth, Google Maps, government maps, and observations. A rubric was developed to categorize food quality. Outlets within a 1 km radius of each school, (Tonga, n = 150; NZ, n = 52) stocked predominantly unhealthy foods. The NZ data compared favorably to previous studies, indicating the method was valid. The Tongan data is novel and indicates that alternative strategies can be used when access to GIS-type tools is limited. The method produced visual data that has the potential to be analyzed using strategies appropriate for secondary schools. The method should now be tested in classrooms to assess its potential to support school-age students to engage in mapping and critiquing the retail food environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy School Environment to Enhance Health and Well-Being of Students)
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14 pages, 370 KiB  
Article
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on School-Aged Children’s Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Repeated Measures Study
by Hung-Kwan So, Gilbert T. Chua, Ka-Man Yip, Keith T. S. Tung, Rosa S. Wong, Lobo H. T. Louie, Winnie W. Y. Tso, Ian C. K. Wong, Jason C. Yam, Mike Y. W. Kwan, Kui-Kai Lau, Judy K. W. Kong, Wilfred H. S. Wong and Patrick Ip
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710539 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5104
Abstract
Despite concerns about the negative effects of social distancing and prolonged school closures on children’s lifestyle and physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, robust evidence is lacking on the impact of the pandemic-related school closures and social distancing on children’s wellbeing and [...] Read more.
Despite concerns about the negative effects of social distancing and prolonged school closures on children’s lifestyle and physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, robust evidence is lacking on the impact of the pandemic-related school closures and social distancing on children’s wellbeing and daily life. This study aimed to examine changes in the PA levels, sleep patterns, and screen time of school-aged children during the different phases of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong using a repeated cross-sectional design. School students (grades 1 to 12) were asked to report their daily electronic device usage and to fill in a sleep diary, recording their daily sleep onset and wake-up time. They were equipped with a PA monitor, Actigraph wGT3X-BT, to obtain objective data on their PA levels and sleep patterns. Students were recruited before the pandemic (September 2019–January 2020; n = 577), during school closures (March 2020–April 2020; n = 146), and after schools partially reopened (October 2020–July 2021; n = 227). Our results indicated lower PA levels, longer sleep duration, and longer screen time among participants recruited during school closures than those recruited before the COVID-19 outbreak. Primary school students were found to sleep on average for an extra hour during school closures. The later sleep onset and increased screen time documented during school closures persisted when schools partially reopened. Our findings illustrate the significant impact of social distancing policies during the COVID-19 pandemic on the sleep pattern, screen time, and PA level in school-aged children in Hong Kong. Professionals should urgently reinforce the importance of improving physically activity, good sleep hygiene, and regulated use of electronic devices for parents and school-aged children during this unprecedented time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy School Environment to Enhance Health and Well-Being of Students)
16 pages, 2622 KiB  
Article
Focus on High School: Factors Associated with Creating Harmony between the Educational Transition and Adolescents’ Well-Being
by Pheerasak Assavanopakun, Wachiranun Sirikul, Tharntip Promkutkao, Suchat Promkutkeo and Jinjuta Panumasvivat
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9261; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159261 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2545
Abstract
The transition from online to on-site education was difficult due to a lack of standardized school guidance for school reopening. Even though schools have reopened, uncertainty about the COVID-19 situation and the capacity of the school to maintain safe school operations to mitigate [...] Read more.
The transition from online to on-site education was difficult due to a lack of standardized school guidance for school reopening. Even though schools have reopened, uncertainty about the COVID-19 situation and the capacity of the school to maintain safe school operations to mitigate risks may increase hesitancy among students and parents to participate in on-site studying. Rapid-response surveys of students and parents can provide information to stakeholders on how learning and well-being can best be supported during the educational transition in each context. The aim of this study was to explore the hesitancy of high-school students and the factors that influenced their hesitancy to return to school on site. An online cross-sectional survey was distributed to high-school students in an urban district of Chiang Mai, Thailand, during the fourth wave of the pandemic from 17 November to 13 December 2021. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to explore factors related to the students’ hesitancy to attend on-site education. With a response rate of 10.2% of the targeted study population, the 1266 participants revealed that 15.9% of them had very-high- and extremely high-level hesitancy to study on site, which was associated with less negative moods while studying online (aOR, 1.69; p, 0.016) and a greater fear of infection after returning to school (aOR, 2.95; p, 0.001). Increased readiness to return to school on site (aOR, 0.28; p, 0.001) and discussing COVID-19 prevention with family or friends (aOR, 0.71; p, 0.016) were also associated with a lower hesitancy of students. Only 5.6% of the students reported being hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. However, no significant associations were found between schooling hesitancy and their willingness to get vaccinated, nor the frequency of students’ outside activities. High-school students who experience negative moods during online studying should be monitored and receive additional support if the reopening is postponed. More opportunities to discuss COVID-19 prevention with family or friends, as well as a higher level of readiness, may increase the willingness to return to school on site. Local authorities and schools need to strengthen communication and coordination mechanisms to reduce parents’ and students’ schooling hesitancy by providing explicit information about the COVID-19 situation and risk-mitigation measures, along with normalizing messages about fear and anxiety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy School Environment to Enhance Health and Well-Being of Students)
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14 pages, 1898 KiB  
Article
Cultivating a Healthy Living Environment for Adolescents in the Post-COVID Era in Hong Kong: Exploring Youth Health Needs
by Cheuk-yeung Ho and Albert Lee
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7072; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127072 - 9 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3694
Abstract
Studies have shown that adolescents now have a higher exposure to health risks than those in the past, and Hong Kong adolescents are no exception, particularly with the social crisis in 2019 and then the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Data from health care services [...] Read more.
Studies have shown that adolescents now have a higher exposure to health risks than those in the past, and Hong Kong adolescents are no exception, particularly with the social crisis in 2019 and then the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Data from health care services for children and adolescents only represent the tip of the clinical iceberg, and health profiles, including living habits, lifestyles, data on health status, and health service utilization, are not always readily available for effective planning to cultivate a healthy living environment. In this paper, an exploratory study on secondary school students was conducted in one district of Hong Kong that has the potential and resources to become a healthy city. Students were found to have a high prevalence of poor sleep quality and quantity; excess screen time; physical inactivity; an insufficient intake of healthy food; emotional disturbance, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSDs); and irregular attendance to student health services. A multivariate analysis showed that excessive time on social media websites, short sleeping hours, symptoms of PTSD, and a lack of regular exercise were independently associated with emotional distress. Youth service providers should re-orientate student health services, moving away from routine services to be more outreaching in order to cultivate a supportive living and learning environment, promoting better health for adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy School Environment to Enhance Health and Well-Being of Students)
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20 pages, 407 KiB  
Article
Are You “Nudgeable”? Factors Affecting the Acceptance of Healthy Eating Nudges in a Cafeteria Setting
by Christine Kawa, Wim H. Gijselaers, Jan F. H. Nijhuis and Patrizia M. Ianiro-Dahm
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4107; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074107 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4110
Abstract
Research has identified nudging as a promising and effective tool to improve healthy eating behavior in a cafeteria setting. However, it remains unclear who is and who is not “nudgeable” (susceptible to nudges). An important influencing factor at the individual level is nudge [...] Read more.
Research has identified nudging as a promising and effective tool to improve healthy eating behavior in a cafeteria setting. However, it remains unclear who is and who is not “nudgeable” (susceptible to nudges). An important influencing factor at the individual level is nudge acceptance. While some progress has been made in determining influences on the acceptance of healthy eating nudges, research on how personal characteristics (such as the perception of social norms) affect nudge acceptance remains scarce. We conducted a survey on 1032 university students to assess the acceptance of nine different types of healthy eating nudges in a cafeteria setting with four influential factors (social norms, health-promoting collaboration, responsibility to promote healthy eating, and procrastination). These factors are likely to play a role within a university and a cafeteria setting. The present study showed that key influential factors of nudge acceptance were the perceived responsibility to promote healthy eating and health-promoting collaboration. We also identified three different student clusters with respect to nudge acceptance, demonstrating that not all nudges were accepted equally. In particular, default, salience, and priming nudges were at least moderately accepted regardless of the degree of nudgeability. Our findings provide useful policy implications for nudge development by university, cafeteria, and public health officials. Recommendations are formulated for strengthening the theoretical background of nudge acceptance and the susceptibility to nudges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy School Environment to Enhance Health and Well-Being of Students)
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