Norwegian version of this page

Health and Mastery in an Interdisciplinary Perspective

Good health is an important resource, both for the individual and for society as a whole. However, good health is not just the absence of disease; it is also about mastering challenges.

Affiliation:
Faculty of Social and Health Sciences
Academic discipline:
Health, sports and welfare

The research group aims to strengthen interdisciplinary research with a particular focus on four central research areas: mental health of children and youth, health communication and health literacy, health promotion targeted at children and youth, as well as health measurement. Through an interdisciplinary approach, knowledge from various fields is united, providing a stronger foundation for delivering high-quality education and research with societal relevance.

The research group emphasizes a health promotion perspective, highlighting how individuals' resources can be strengthened to manage and maintain their own health in everyday life. Understanding factors that promote and strengthen health can contribute to better health and quality of life throughout the population. At the same time, it can yield socioeconomic benefits for society.

What we research

Research activities in the group are directed towards the following main areas:

 

♦ Children and youth as relatives in the municipality

♦ Health literacy in the population

♦ Health literacy-friendly organizations

♦ Youth and the use of electronic media

♦ Mental health of children and youth

♦ Health measurement

♦ Psychometric analysis of measurement instruments

♦ Sexual harassment

♦ Online bullying

More about the research group

Research Themes:

Mental Health of Children and Youth:

This is a timely and important area in both research and education. The lifelong foundation is established in childhood and adolescence, and concerns related to the mental health of children and youth have been increasing in today's society. Within this theme, the research group works with data from Ungdata and UngHUNT4. One of the central research areas is the use of digital media and how such media usage correlates with the mental health of young people. The group also collaborates with KoRus-Øst, one of the seven national competence centers in the field of substance abuse.

Health Literacy:

Communication of health information is central for individuals to manage and take care of their own health. Adequate health literacy is crucial for individuals in applying relevant health information to their own life. It is essential for making informed choices regarding one's health and managing one's health condition and any health challenges. In addition to an individual perspective, the research group focuses on how the healthcare system can become more health literacy-friendly, tailored to individuals' varying levels of health literacy. Researchers are associated with both national and international research groups and projects on the topic of health literacy.

Health Promotion Targeted at Children and Youth:

Public health nurses engage in health-promoting, preventive, and change-focused work at the individual, group, system, and community levels. Their work aims to promote informed health choices and contribute to the well-being and quality of life of the target audience. The research group's work is focused on children and youth and the services provided to them. Key areas for this research group include the competence of public health nurses, municipal services for children and youth, children and youth with ill parents, young migrants, and school dropouts. The group collaborates with national and international research environments.

Health Measurement:

Health measurement is another major focus area. To draw conclusions about results and provide recommendations for practice and further research, it is necessary that the instruments used in questionnaire surveys are reliable and provide valid answers. The group works on psychometric analyses of questionnaire-based measurement instruments and has expertise in the use of Rasch analysis, with a strong international network in this methodology.

The research group consists of researchers from various scientific disciplines, including public health, social work, sociology, psychiatry, nursing, public health nursing, and social anthropology. The interdisciplinary composition of the group reflects the researchers' broad experience in health and social sciences.

Ongoing Projects:

Contact the research group

Picture of Anne Mari Steigen
Anne Mari Steigen
Postdoktor
Email
anne.steigen@inn.no
Phone
+47 62 43 03 58

Members