Perspectives on the encouragement of healthy energy balance related behaviour in the school environment (2014)

The aim of this thesis is to gain insight in the energy-balance related behaviour (EBRB) of adolescents on schooldays and the perceptions of adolescents, school staff and parents on school-based health promotion in interaction with encouraging health behaviour at home. The personal views, motives and capabilities of key persons, such as parents and teachers, in delivering interventions are often underexposed in studies. However, knowledge about these personal factors can contribute to the development of integrated intervention strategies in which the actions of different key persons match with their motives and abilities are aligned and supported by each other. In connection with the aim of the study, four subquestions were formulated:

1. What perceptions do adolescents in prevocational schools have regarding a healthy bodyweight, EBRB and strategies for overweight prevention?
2. What differences in adolescents’ EBRB can be found between boys and girls, students of different educational levels and students with or without overweight?
3. What perceptions do adolescents, school staff and parents have of the role of parents in strategies for overweight prevention in adolescents and how is this role associated with adolescents’ EBRB?
4. What perceptions do adolescents, school staff and parents have of the role of the school with regard to adolescents’ EBRB?
5. What are the motivation, capability, opportunities and actions of teachers of health-related subjects to encourage healthy EBRB in their students?