Internal and external assets and Romanian adolescents' health: An evidence-based approach to health promoting schools policy

Abstract

This chapter looks at how internal and external assets relate to the mental health and health behaviour of Romanian adolescents. Data from the Health Behaviour of School-Aged children survey is used to measure mental health status against indices of school social capital. Results demonstrate that changes in family structure, parenting patterns and the easy availability of unhealthy lifestyle options means that the contemporary role played by school in the health education of teenagers has assumed greater importance than in the past. The authors argue that the assets based model for health provides a useful frame-work, demonstrating how school health promotion should focus on building internal and external resources, helping young people to become active agents in the promotion of their own mental well being and health behaviour. Gender differences also emerged from the study, with boys demonstrating more internal and external resources than girls. Data such as this can be useful in developing national school policy, promoting student centred methods that help increase self-efficacy and self-esteem. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.