Schoolchildren from the north sharing their lived experience of health and well-being

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe and develop an understanding of schoolchildren's health and well-being from their own perspective. Nearly 100 schoolchildren from the northern part of Sweden, aged 10-12 years, wrote open letters and participated in group discussions as a way to share their lived experience. The phenomenological analyze resulted in three main themes; (a) associating with others; (b) actively participating and (c) being a recipient. The schoolchildren's lived experience formed an intricate unite including health and ill-health as well as well-being and lack thereof. The meaning of schoolchildren's health and well-being was understood as the experience of relationships to others and as the relationship to oneself. The relationships to others was positive or negative for schoolchildren's health and well-being depending on if they were met with a "we" in mind or not. When given the choice to participate, and if shown respect, and trust was understood as positive for schoolchildren's health and well-being, while the opposite was true when lacking these qualities in relationships with others. © 2006 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved.