YHP Austria
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Location
Nationwide
Timing
2024 - 2027
The local context
Self-esteem is closely related to physical and mental well-being. Low self-esteem can result in decisions that lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices, e.g. emotional eating to supress negative emotions such as stress and anxiety.1
Studies have shown that improving the resilience, coping strategies and confidence of young people can impact on their ability to make informed decisions about their health, e.g. improving the quality of their diet, thereby leading to improved health and well-being.2
However, the promotion of health literacy & resilience is currently only practiced in 1 out of 8 Austrian schools (13%) from the 5th school year onwards (10-18 year olds).3
Promoting health literacy and resilience is therefore a key foundation for impacting behaviours that lead to improved health.
Our objectives
To help young people build their knowledge and confidence to make healthier lifestyle choices.
By strengthening their resilience, the programme aims to strengthen their health-related behaviours. The central approach focuses on helping young people recognise their own strengths and potential to subsequently make healthier choices in their lives.
Our programme
- In partnership with SIPCAN we are delivering a school-based learning programme for children and adolescents aged 12 to 15, focused on equipping young people with the emotional resilience and self-confidence to make healthier lifestyle choices in areas such as nutrition and physical exercise.
- The core component of the programme is a free brochure, ‘Strengthening Strengths’, accompanied by a 'personal strengths' profile and a information postcard that can be used by students to build on their own potential. The materials are designed to be used independently by teachers and integrated into lessons without the need for lengthy preparation. Further supporting content and materials are also in development, to further extend the reach of the programme.
- Schools with a higher ratio of marginalised groups and/or in under-resourced environments will be prioritised for free workshops.
- Additionally, AstraZeneca employees plan to volunteer at some participating schools from 2025.
- We aim to directly reach 50,000 young people each year with our programme.
Our partners
SIPCAN (Special Institute for Preventive Cardiology and Nutrition) is a non-profit, scientific organisation that implements health promotion programmes throughout Austria with a multidisciplinary team of experts. Founded in 2005, their goal is to encourage healthier behaviours among Austrian children through school programmes to prevent metabolic diseases.
References:
1. Lacomba-Trejo L, Mateu-Mollá J, Bellegarde-Nunes MD, Delhom I. Are Coping Strategies, Emotional Abilities, and Resilience Predictors of Well-Being? Comparison of Linear and Non-Linear Methodologies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(12):7478. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127478.
2. NutriNet-Santé study - Robert M, Shankland R, Bellicha A, Kesse-Guyot E, Deschasaux-Tanguy M, Andreeva VA, Srour B, Hercberg S, Touvier M, Leys C, Péneau S. Associations Between Resilience and Food Intake Are Mediated by Emotional Eating in the NutriNet-Santé Study. J Nutr. 2022 Aug 9;152(8):1907-1915. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxac124.
3. Data on file, SIPCAN, 2024.