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From 9 to 91: health promotion through the life-course—illuminating the inner child
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health Sciences.
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Health and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1127-1178
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Health and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6068-821x
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Nursing and Medical technology.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3876-7202
2021 (English)In: Health Promotion International, ISSN 0957-4824, E-ISSN 1460-2245, Vol. 36, no 4, p. 1062-1071Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

A life-course perspective is according to the World Health Organization about increasing the effectiveness of health promotion interventions at all ages. This targets the needs of human beings throughout their life. Descriptions of the phenomenon of the inner child invite the possibility that it may be of help when promoting health throughout the life-course. The aim was to describe and understand schoolchildren's, adults and older person's experiences of childhood in connection to health and well-being in the present and through the life-course, illuminating the inner child. The research strategy used was a secondary analysis of the original transcribed data from three Swedish studies investigating new questions. In total, 53 individuals aged 9-91, 20 school children, 20 adults and 13 older persons were interviewed about childhood experiences. The schoolchildren were invited to create a drawing, and to narrate about it during the interview. The main question in the secondary analysis was 'How do the participants' narrations about childhood experiences illuminate the inner child, useful for health promotion through the life-course?' The findings showed the importance of a secure atmosphere and trusting relationships, indicating that experiences during childhood can help us to adapt and pass along life lessons across generations. There were narratives about play as an activity where they learned to promote a healthy childhood, struggle for independence and learning how to be responsible when growing up. Dimensions of mental, social and existential well-being can be seen as examples of the inner child's role in health promotion through the life-course.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Oxford University Press, 2021. Vol. 36, no 4, p. 1062-1071
Keywords [en]
health promotion, inner child, life-course, qualitative research
National Category
Nursing Occupational Therapy Other Health Sciences
Research subject
Health Science; Occupational Therapy; Nursing
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-81981DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daaa132ISI: 000696255500017PubMedID: 33305330Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85115038973OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-81981DiVA, id: diva2:1509750
Note

Validerad;2021;Nivå 2;2021-09-13 (beamah);

Har tidigare förekommit som manuskript i avhandling

Available from: 2020-12-14 Created: 2020-12-14 Last updated: 2023-09-08Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Health promotion through the lifespan - the phenomenon of the inner child reflected in childhood events - experienced by children, adults and older persons
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Health promotion through the lifespan - the phenomenon of the inner child reflected in childhood events - experienced by children, adults and older persons
2020 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

In spite of the fact that we are living longer lives, we still have to face challenges in our society like mental ill-health and stress-related conditions. However, human experiences may give insight on how to overcome challenges like these, by using a health-promoting perspective focusing on salutogenic aspects of health and well-being. The overall aim of this thesis was to describe and gain more knowledge about the phenomenon of the inner child reflected in human beings’ experiences of childhood in connection to health and well-being in the present and through the life course. The thesis consists of three data collections and four studies, and they are all based on a qualitative approach. A total of 53 human beings aged 9 to 91 participated. Open-ended interviews (I – III) were conducted to explore the participants’ lived experiences of childhood. The schoolchildren were also asked to create a drawing to support their narrations about playing (I). A hermeneutical phenomenological approach was used to analyse the data (I – III). A secondary analysis of the data from the three hermeneutical phenomenological studies was performed (IV). The comprehensive understanding of all studies (I-IV) was about meeting the challenges in our society of mental ill-health and stress-related conditions. The findings suggest that the participants by practicing self-knowledge to be the best they can be are turning challenges into life lessons. The findings illuminate how human beings are influenced by the inner child throughout the lifespan. Experiences during childhood have an impact on how we act in relation to the next generation, in our choice of profession, and in the promotion of health. The notion of “test-driving life” was about the participants trying to manoeuvre through life with experiences of supportive relationships and safe surroundings, and also of the opposite. Using a health promotion perspective focusing on salutogenic aspects of health and wellbeing, human experiences during the lifespan may give insight on how to overcome challenges in life increasing health literacy – an area in need of further research. The phenomenon of the inner child may further the discussion of health promotion.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Luleå University of Technology, 2020
Series
Doctoral thesis / Luleå University of Technology 1 jan 1997 → …, ISSN 1402-1544
Keywords
health promotion, inner child, lifespan, play, life lessons, self-knowledge
National Category
Other Health Sciences
Research subject
Health Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-76705 (URN)978-91-7790-502-8 (ISBN)978-91-7790-503-5 (ISBN)
Public defence
2020-02-14, B192, Luleå, 10:00 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2019-11-14 Created: 2019-11-14 Last updated: 2021-01-18Bibliographically approved

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Sjöblom, MargaretaJacobsson, LarsÖhrling, KerstinKostenius, Catrine

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