Actualizing child and adolescent empowerment in participatory action research for health promotion: a six-element framework

Abstract

Child and adolescent participation for health promotion can be realized through participatory action research (PAR). However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the concrete steps needed to actualize empowerment within PAR. We propose a framework that outlines six elements that need to be considered when designing a PAR study that strives to actualize child and adolescent empowerment. These are 1) Safeguarding the necessary resources; 2) Having high quality adult facilitation; 3) Enabling sense-making activities and 4) Investing in capacity building. These four elements make up an environment that may nourish children and adolescents’ social, emotional and cognitive development that may potentially lead to 5) Positive child and adolescent development and 6) Participatory competence. The proposed framework adopts a holistic approach by considering the lived reality of children and adolescents and their capabilities and characteristics. Future research is needed to assess the practical utility of the framework.

Keywords

• Empowerment
• Health promotion
• Participatory Action Research (PAR)
• Positive youth development
• Framework
• School-aged