In her thesis, Hadil Elsayed investigates how health promotion initiatives function within Swedish schools. By analyzing policy documents and conducting interviews with various school professionals, she maps out both strengths and areas for development.
– The policy documents that regulate health promotion in schools demonstrate a strong social and democratic awareness. However, they also contain certain ambiguities that affect their practical implementation, says Hadil Elsayed.
Complex Organizational Challenges
A clear pattern in the study is that school staff view structure and clear governance as essential conditions for effective health promotion. However, the study also shows that the organizational structure of student health services, with multiple layers of decision-making, can sometimes create tensions that impact daily work.
Social Media Creates New Challenges
One of the major challenges faced by school staff is students’ use of social media, particularly regarding cyberbullying and uncritical self-comparisons.
– There is a gap in policy documents regarding the school’s responsibility for students' use of social media. Clearer guidelines could lead to more effective health promotion initiatives, explains Hadil Elsayed.
Despite these challenges, the study shows that school staff find creative solutions to manage difficulties. Some, for example, have started using social media as a tool in their health promotion work.
Bridging Research and Policy Reform
Recently, a governmental inquiry has been launched to review the organization of student health services. Hadil Elsayed hopes that her thesis, with its concrete recommendations on how to develop health promotion in schools—both in terms of organization and governance—will be of practical use.
The thesis also contributes a Swedish perspective to international research on school-based health promotion and aligns with the core principles of Schools for Health in Europe (SHE), of which Sweden is a member.
Text: Ragnhild Larsson
