[Use of the Smartphone to Promote Healthy Habits among Teen-agers, Spain].
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The PEGASO Project aims to design a technological system aimed at European adolescents to promote healthy lifestyles. The objective was to explore teenagers and their parents and teachers perceptions with regards to mobile technology use in promoting a healthier lifestyle, in terms of food and physical activity. METHODS: Qualitative study based on primary data obtained through four focus groups analysis (three teenager groups between 13 and 15 y and 1 parent/teacher group). Verbatim transcriptions have been analysed following content analysis perspective. RESULTS: Four different categories were identified: 1: social and cultural context, 2: adolescents and health, 3: role of technology in teenagers' lives and 4: use of technology to acquire healthier habits. Each category helped to arise various subcategories linked to the relation between teens and health: holistic health concept, health/disease perception directly related with feeling physically fit and social acceptance. With regards to technology, the arisen themes were: feeling connected with others, importance of entertainment/games, omnipresent use of Smartphones and risk of excessive dependence on technology. The difference between teens and adults with regards to health and technology categories were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Both teens and adults think that for technology to be effective in acquiring healthier habits it has to help teens to improve and maintain their self-esteem, in an entertaining way and using their own communication codes, mainly audio-visual ones, always under the umbrella of a holistic and integrated perception of health.
Source: PubMed Central
Institutions: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Universitat de Girona, Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud en Enfermedades Crónicas, Universitat de Barcelona, Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Salut, Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries de Catalunya
Language: Spanish
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2562893132