1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the health behaviors of young children by documenting the actions they say they take for their health in the contexts that structure their daily lives. [...] Our intent was to determine whether general themes underlie children’s health behavior that in turn could serve as focal topics for health promotion. » (p. 461)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
« The sample consisted of 1,674 children in the Province of Québec (boys = 828; girls = 846) age 5-6 years (n = 559), 8-9 years (n = 564), ans 11-12 years (n= 551). Children were chosen from schools located in urban and rural areas having different levels of social and economic advantage. » (p. 463)

Instruments :
Individual, structured, 30-minute interviews

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu, analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« Objective: To describe health actions young children say they take in contexts that structure their day including eating, dressing, keeping clean, going to sleep, schoolwork, recess, leisure time, and going place. [...] Results: Children mentioned actions related to eating (food choices, eating behaviors), engaging in physical activity, avoiding illness or injury, being clean, getting fresh air and mental health (fostering interpersonal relationships, helping others, and making oneself feel good or relaxed). Conclusion: The report of these actions by large numbers of children, and across different contexts, supports their inclusion as key topics in developmentally appropriate health promotion. » (p. 460)