Research projects

長期化する紛争下では、人々は根源的な問題の解決が困難な状況の中で生きており、青少年の精神・心理面の健康への負の影響は大きい。ヘルスリテラシー(以下、HL)は、精神・心理面の健康や生活の質の向上にも影響している。政治的社会的に困難な状況にあってもよりよく生きるために、HLはその一助となる可能性を持つ。 本研究では、慢性的紛争下のパレスチナにおいて、青少年のHLの実態を把握し、HLと主観的健康の認識や幸福度、暴力による曝露との関係を明らかにし、状況が異なる地域の比較を通して、相違点を特定する。そして、その結果に基づき、学校保健教育において使用可能な、HL向上のための教育ツールを開発する。

This study explored the potential of increasing health literacy and living better in health to help continue schooling to address the problem of adolescents dropping out of schooling in Palestine, a socio-politically difficult situation due to the prolonged conflict. The methods used were analysis and discussion of quantitative data collected in previous studies in the planning of this research, a literature review and exploration using qualitative research methods. At the same time, a questionnaire was developed to assess the health literacy of adolescents and related factors. In the paper publishing the results of the study, policymakers recommended that the concept of health literacy be integrated into both education and the health care system for school-aged adolescents.

We conducted quantitative and qualitative studies to identify the factors associated with and the potential of health literacy as a key factor for adolescents to survive chronic conflicts in Palestine. During the research, we validated the Arabic version of the health literacy assessment scale in Palestine. A challenge against the gender gap in health literacy among Palestinian university students arose during the study. We found, through this research, that by improving health literacy levels, adolescents might be able to live healthier and happier lives even under the circumstances of chronic violence.