“What concerns me or what is most interesting to me”: A qualitative study about what influences adolescent engagement with public health issues

Abstract

Issues Addressed

Promoting public health messages in adolescence may influence future health outcomes. A better understanding of what influences adolescent engagement with public health issues is needed.

Methods

Adolescents aged 13–19 years from New South Wales, Australia, were recruited via study advertisements to participate in an online focus group. All provided informed consent and completed a short survey including demographics and selection of leading public health issues of concern. Participants attended a 75–90 min focus group conducted through Zoom teleconference that explored top public health issues of concern to participants, and barriers/enablers to engage with these issues. Qualitative data was thematically analysed using NVivo. A working group reached consensus on final themes.

Results

Out of 18 participants (mean 15.4 [SD: 2.2] years; 50% female), most attended high school (83%), spoke predominantly English at home (89%), and resided in metropolitan areas (94%). The top public health issues of concern selected were mental health (56%) and the environment/climate change (56%). From the thematic analysis, underlying drivers of adolescent engagement with public health issues included: personal connection to these issues, broader societal impact, and exposure to public health issues on digital media. Barriers included feeling unempowered, and a lack of support and opportunities.

Conclusions

This study provides insights on the barriers and enablers of adolescents engaging with public health issues of concern to them.

So What?

Understanding this may help health professionals and researchers to design more influential public health campaigns and interventions, including through co-design processes, which may improve future health outcomes.