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Societies
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Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society
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Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society

A special issue of Societies (ISSN 2075-4698).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 23971

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Joana Torres

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Higher School of Education of Fafe, Institute of Higher Studies of Fafe, 4824-909 Fafe, Portugal
Interests: science education; health education; environmental education; teaching methodologies; nature of science
Prof. Dr. Isilda Rodrigues

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Education and Psychology Department, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: history of science; science education; experimental teaching of sciences; health education; sexual education; environmental education

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Keeping in mind the difficulties that arose due to the current pandemic situation that we all face, scientific knowledge, specifically that related to our health, has gained even more relevance. It is also well-known that our health heavily depends on health determinants, such as genetics, environment, economic and social conditions, as well as each person’s behavior and lifestyle. In fact, there are studies that reveal that lifestyle plays a huge impact on health, which justifies the need to seriously invest in the promotion of the health of our society, namely through education, the development of health policies, and the creation of favorable conditions for a healthier lifestyle.

This Special Issue of Societies invites research that makes new contributions to health promotion, seeking studies from different parts of the world that contemplate different aspects of it, namely how health promotion is carried out, which difficulties are faced, as well as good examples of successful implementations, among others.

Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches are welcome.

Contributions must follow one of the three categories of papers (article, conceptual paper, or review) for the journal and address the topic of the Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Joana Torres
Prof. Dr. Isilda Rodrigues
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 conceptual papers 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 double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Societies 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 1400 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

  • health promotion
  • healthy lifestyle
  • education
  • society

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 607 KiB  
Article
Impact of a Health Promotion Program on Knowledge, Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social Health Behaviors in Individuals at Risk for Colorectal Cancer
by Surachet Fakkiew, Supat Teravecharoenchai, Panit Khemtong and Wanich Suksatan
Societies 2024, 14(9), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090182 - 13 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1242
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Thailand. While numerous studies advocate for regular screenings and health promotion programs to mitigate CRC risk, there is a notable lack of tailored health promotion models specifically [...] Read more.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Thailand. While numerous studies advocate for regular screenings and health promotion programs to mitigate CRC risk, there is a notable lack of tailored health promotion models specifically designed for high-risk groups in Thailand. This research aims to develop a health promotion model to prevent CRC in high-risk groups through a quasi-experimental design. The study involved 68 Thai participants aged 40–70 years, divided equally into experimental and comparison groups. Independent-Samples t-test, Paired-Samples t-test, and one-way variance test (F-test) were employed to analyze the data. The comparison of baseline average scores for physical health, mental health, social health, and knowledge on health-promoting behaviors between the experimental and comparison groups revealed no significant differences. However, following the experiment, the average scores in physical health (t = −2.81, p = 0.01) and mental health (t = −10.30, p < 0.001) were significantly higher compared to pre-experiment levels, with the exception of social health (t = 0.07, p = 0.94). Furthermore, the average knowledge scores related to promoting physical, mental, and social health in the experimental group also showed a significant increase after the experiment (t = −4.53, p < 0.001). The findings suggest that health personnel should advocate for annual CRC screening and the implementation of health promotion programs, especially focusing on physical, mental, and social aspects for at-risk populations. This study underscores the need for long-term health promotion models to achieve continuous and sustainable health improvements in these groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
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41 pages, 6710 KiB  
Article
Life Satisfaction: Insights from the World Values Survey
by Daniel Homocianu
Societies 2024, 14(7), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14070119 - 15 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1937
Abstract
This paper explores enduring influences on life satisfaction using empirical analysis of World Values Survey (WVS) data (four versions of the most comprehensive dataset, namely 1.6, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0). Five significant values emerged—financial satisfaction, happiness, freedom of choice, health, and democracy. Through [...] Read more.
This paper explores enduring influences on life satisfaction using empirical analysis of World Values Survey (WVS) data (four versions of the most comprehensive dataset, namely 1.6, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0). Five significant values emerged—financial satisfaction, happiness, freedom of choice, health, and democracy. Through rigorous selection processes and various statistical techniques, a subset of three determinants resulted, along with consecrated socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, social class, and settlement size. Advanced methodologies such as feature selection, random and non-random cross-validations, overfitting removal, collinearity and reverse causality checks, and different regressions served to evaluate and validate robust models. Nomograms helped to predict life satisfaction probabilities. The findings contribute to understanding life satisfaction dynamics and offer practical insights for future research and policy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
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16 pages, 845 KiB  
Article
WASTA in Arab Societies: Optimizing or Worsening Quality of Life? The Role of Religiosity
by Ibrahim A. Elsaher
Societies 2024, 14(7), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14070101 - 27 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1464
Abstract
WASTA, a word widely used in Arab society, implies using people’s connections to generate mutual advantages. WASTA is rooted deeply in the culture of Arab societies and has a double effect that stimulates a continuous argument. On one hand, WASTA is considered a [...] Read more.
WASTA, a word widely used in Arab society, implies using people’s connections to generate mutual advantages. WASTA is rooted deeply in the culture of Arab societies and has a double effect that stimulates a continuous argument. On one hand, WASTA is considered a valuable social practice that optimizes social bonds and dual support to improve the overall quality of life (QoL) for all parties. In contrast, WASTA is regularly criticized for extending inequality and corruption in the community, which might worsen QoL, taking into consideration the mediating impacts of religiosity. This paper investigated the dual effects of WASTA on QoL and the mediating role of religiosity in Arab societies. Three hundred and ninety small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs’) owners in Saudi Arabia participated in a self-structured questionnaire that was analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results showed that the appearance of some dimensions of WASTA in Arab societies can optimize QoL. At the same time, other elements can worsen the QoL of the participating parties, but the adverse effect can be mitigated when religiosity is a mediator. These results suggest that WASTA can act as a positive connection method in Arab societies when accompanied by religiosity but can accelerate corruption in its absence; several practical and theoretical implications were discussed and elaborated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
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19 pages, 1149 KiB  
Article
Medical Students’ Views on Cannabis Use in Recreational Contexts Are Related to Their Own Consumption Intention
by Anca-Livia Panfil, Simona C. Tamasan, Lucretia Marin-Bancila, Bianca Matei, Minas G. Musca, Claudia C. Vasilian, Alina Petrica and Diana Lungeanu
Societies 2024, 14(4), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14040052 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 2123
Abstract
Health professionals are regarded as important sources of information and guidance for healthy living. Knowing health determinants and risks, and invested with credibility in society, many struggle with their own human limits to apply these principles. A cross-sectional study was conducted among advanced [...] Read more.
Health professionals are regarded as important sources of information and guidance for healthy living. Knowing health determinants and risks, and invested with credibility in society, many struggle with their own human limits to apply these principles. A cross-sectional study was conducted among advanced medical students to assess their attitude towards recreational cannabis consumption, intention to use it, and their opinion of its legal status. Secondary objectives were to explore the relation of these primary outcomes to: (a) potentially addictive habits (such as smoking and drinking); (b) individuals’ disturbances in self-organization (DSOs), defined in the ICD-11 as pervasive chronic effects of traumatic experiences or stressful events. An anonymous online questionnaire active in November 2022 collected data from 171 medical students, of which almost 56% were in favor of recreational cannabis legalization. In a logistic regression analysis, each additional point of own consumption intention (on a scale from 1 to 5) was found to increase the odds of a positive opinion of legalization by three times, when controlling for gender, age, smoking, drinking, onset age of smoking, and DSO: OR = 2.918, 95%CI (1.893–4.497). In conclusion, health professionals’ personal beliefs and practices regarding substance use have a significant subjective component. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
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12 pages, 229 KiB  
Article
Complexity Theory in Health Promotion Research: Four Essential Principles Based on Niklas Luhmann’s Systems Theory
by Dan Grabowski, Jens Aagaard-Hansen, Morten Hulvej Rod and Bjarne Bruun Jensen
Societies 2023, 13(12), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120253 - 6 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2937
Abstract
Complexity-oriented approaches built on complexity theories are not widely used in health promotion research. The field of health promotion faces significant difficulties in explaining and addressing unforeseen impacts and side effects due to the widespread tendency to implement health promotion initiatives that are [...] Read more.
Complexity-oriented approaches built on complexity theories are not widely used in health promotion research. The field of health promotion faces significant difficulties in explaining and addressing unforeseen impacts and side effects due to the widespread tendency to implement health promotion initiatives that are considered best practices. It is important to theoretically embrace the fact that we operate in a complex world and that we, therefore, need to redefine our approaches by acknowledging the complexities involved in promoting health. In this theoretical paper, we propose a set of four complexity-oriented principles for health promotion research based on Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory: (1) direct transfer of health knowledge and health competencies is impossible; (2) all individuals and social entities are fundamentally different from each other; (3) the individual’s sense of health-related meaning determines what is deemed relevant; and (4) it is essential for communication to meet expectations if it is to be observed. The set of principles presented in this article can be applied to research projects intended to explore and address challenges related to complexity in health promotion settings. It can be used as a lens through which to observe health promotion practice. If health promotion research wants to address the field that we have defined for ourselves as extremely complex and unaddressed by anyone else, we need to embrace approaches that actually do this—by providing health promotion research with a formal framework appropriate to its existing main purposes and concerns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
15 pages, 340 KiB  
Article
Healthism vis-à-vis Vaccine Hesitancy: Insights from Parents Who Either Delay or Refuse Children’s Vaccination in Portugal
by Joana Mendonça and Ana Patrícia Hilário
Societies 2023, 13(8), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13080184 - 5 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2270
Abstract
Although healthism appears to be at the heart of the decision-making process of vaccine hesitancy, this matter has been understudied. We believe that the concept of healthism may be key to lessen the polarization of discourses around vaccination, offering a broad understanding of [...] Read more.
Although healthism appears to be at the heart of the decision-making process of vaccine hesitancy, this matter has been understudied. We believe that the concept of healthism may be key to lessen the polarization of discourses around vaccination, offering a broad understanding of parents’ decision to not vaccinate their children. This article aims to deepen the knowledge on the relation between healthism and vaccine hesitancy, using Portugal as a case study. A qualitative research approach was adopted, and therefore, in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 vaccine-hesitant parents. The findings showed that vaccine-hesitant parents usually adopt several strategies based on natural living to prevent and tackle their children’s potential health issues. There appears to be a common approach towards health and life (i.e., healthism) among vaccine-hesitant parents. Drawing upon the healthism ideology, vaccine-hesitant parents make choices to ensure the good health of their child. These choices nevertheless represent a privileged position as the pursuit of healthfulness is constrained by sociodemographic aspects. Using vaccine hesitancy as the starting point, our findings show that healthism and its focus on personal accountability under the umbrella of neoliberalism may jeopardize global public health. Healthcare professionals should pay particular attention to healthism when addressing vaccine hesitancy in Portugal and elsewhere. Research evidence advocates the need to be sensitive to the broad spectrum of vaccine hesitancy as this encompasses multiple views on the subject. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
12 pages, 279 KiB  
Article
Exploratory Factor Analysis, Criterion and Psychometric Properties of a Proposed Scale to Measure the Risk of Eating Disorders in Adolescents (PETCA)
by Montserrat Monserrat, Angeles Arjona Garrido, Juan Carlos Checa, Dario Salguero and Joaquin Tarifa
Societies 2023, 13(7), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13070156 - 30 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2035
Abstract
This paper deals with the different risk scales of eating disorder in adolescents. The main objective is to create a scale to measure the risk of developing eating disorders using social and behavioral variables. The trial sample included 605 adolescents, aged 12–17 years [...] Read more.
This paper deals with the different risk scales of eating disorder in adolescents. The main objective is to create a scale to measure the risk of developing eating disorders using social and behavioral variables. The trial sample included 605 adolescents, aged 12–17 years (M = 14.27; SD 1.44), randomly selected from several centers who requested to participate in a health program. After using the principal component extraction method (PCA) with adequate internal consistency and reliability, and with a total explained variance of 60%, factor analysis showed five factors: satisfaction with body image, self-esteem, use of social networks, negative relationship with food, and image and social recognition. Pearson’s correlation coefficients between our scale and reference scale (SCOFF) factors provided information on converging validity. However, the Cronbach’s alpha values for dimensions 3 and 4 failed to reach the desired scores, and it was noted that not all dimensions had the same number of elements. Therefore, future interventions and proposals to develop a stronger scale are proposed. Despite the drawbacks, our findings provide a solid foundation for further analysis to find the most reliable method of analysis possible in this innovative area. We believe that this scale can help both health and education professionals to develop effective interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
18 pages, 1630 KiB  
Article
Quality Learning in Basic Life Support in Portuguese Basic Education School: A Cross-Sectional Study with 10th Grade Students
by Maria Aurora Boné, Maria João Loureiro and Jorge Bonito
Societies 2023, 13(6), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13060147 - 18 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1699
Abstract
An out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. The survival rate can be influenced by the chain of survival. The school is the institution that has the opportunity to promote the education of citizens in [...] Read more.
An out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. The survival rate can be influenced by the chain of survival. The school is the institution that has the opportunity to promote the education of citizens in basic life support (BLS), increasing the number of trained bystanders. This study aimed to identify the theoretical and practical knowledge and self-reported skills in BLS, in order to characterize the motivation to intervene in an emergency. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional and analytical study of the survey type was developed with a sample of 1215 students enrolled in 10th-grade secondary education in 2019–2020 in Portugal. The results point to a fragile appropriation of theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of BLS. Self-declared competences tend to rank below the theoretical knowledge manifested. Motivation to intervene is high: students are sensitive to the topic and willing to learn and highlight the importance and social relevance of the topic. We conclude that students do not feel prepared and are not empowered to intervene in an OHCA episode. It seems necessary to develop didactic proposals that align the teaching of BLS with the essential learning at the end of compulsory education in Portugal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
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18 pages, 658 KiB  
Article
Use of Instagram as a Resource for the Adoption of Behaviors Related to Health and Well-Being of Young College Students: Associations between Use Profile and Sociodemographic Variables—A Cross-Sectional Study
by Kaline Pessoa, Cícero Luciano Alves Costa, Ana Cláudia Coelho, Ana Bastos and Isilda Rodrigues
Societies 2023, 13(2), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13020045 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3353
Abstract
The use of Instagram and content from digital influencers to gain information and adopt behaviors related to health and well-being may be associated with sociodemographic variables. Few studies have been conducted in different contexts regarding the use of Instagram to obtain information about [...] Read more.
The use of Instagram and content from digital influencers to gain information and adopt behaviors related to health and well-being may be associated with sociodemographic variables. Few studies have been conducted in different contexts regarding the use of Instagram to obtain information about health and well-being and its relationship with sociodemographic variables. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with a convenience sample of the population of students attending a degree course in physical education, in the northeast region of Brazil, to assess the prevalence of Instagram use as a resource for the adoption of behaviors related to health and well-being, as well as to understand the associations between use profiles and sociodemographic variables. An online validated questionnaire was completed by 162 students from March to June 2021. Descriptive statistics and analysis of artificial networks were used. Results indicate the profile of using Instagram to obtain information about health and well-being is impacted by sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, monthly income, and the semester the student is attending. Specifically, although men adopt health and well-being behaviors more frequently, the relationship between variables such as age and monthly income and the variables of the Instagram use profile is stronger among women. However, the adoption of behaviors and the belief in their contribution to self-care establish a strong relationship among both genders. It is concluded that sociodemographic variables can contribute to a better understanding of the use of Instagram to adopt behaviors related to health and well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
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12 pages, 294 KiB  
Article
Knowledge about COVID-19 Best Practices in the North of Portugal and the Importance of Health Education in the Prevention of Pandemic Events
by Joana Oliveira, Isilda Rodrigues, Manuela Matos, Isabel Carvalho, Ana Cristina Matos, Luís Figueira, Maria da Conceição Fontes, Nuno Alegria, Ana Patrícia Lopes, Beatriz do Vale, Luís Cardoso and Ana Cláudia Coelho
Societies 2022, 12(3), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc12030082 - 18 May 2022
Viewed by 2512
Abstract
Introduction: The rapid global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made COVID-19 one of the biggest pandemics of all time, with several devastating public health challenges. In this study, we investigated the knowledge towards COVID-19 best practices in the [...] Read more.
Introduction: The rapid global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made COVID-19 one of the biggest pandemics of all time, with several devastating public health challenges. In this study, we investigated the knowledge towards COVID-19 best practices in the north of Portugal. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with a convenience sample of the population of northern Portugal to assess their knowledge about COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 and measures to prevent and mitigate pandemics. An online validated questionnaire was completed by 411 participants, from September to October 2020. Results: The overall correct knowledge was 81.3%, which indicates a good knowledge by the northern Portuguese respondents about COVID-19. The correct answer score differed considerably between men and women, being significantly higher among the latter (12.28 ± 1.22; p = 0.011). Moreover, the highest knowledge was observed in participants who attended high school or above (12.27 ± 1.21; p < 0.000). Conclusion: This study contributes to the analysis of COVID-19 knowledge by the northern Portuguese population, emphasizes the crucial role of health education in the control and mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides field-based evidence to prevent the next pandemic event. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
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