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Related to the issue of seeing young people as “beings” and active agents is the degree to which they are involved in setting the agenda on the issues deemed important to their health. The implication of seeing young people as incompetent and immature is that research into their health is often adult-driven (Wills, Appleton, Magnusson, & Brooks,

2008). Although research has provided much insight into young people’s perspectives on health issues, such as mental health (C. Armstrong, Hill, & Secker, 2000; Johansson, Brunnberg, & Eriksson, 2007), physical activity (Brooks & Magnusson, 2007; D.

MacDonald, Rodger, Abbott, Ziviani, & Jones, 2005), nutrition (Harrison & Jackson, 2009; Ioannou, 2009), alcohol (Bogren, 2006; Tutenges & Rod, 2009), and sexual health

(Aggleton & Campbell, 2000; Hyde, Howlett, Brady, & Drennan, 2005), less attention has

been given to young people’s views on health more broadly (exceptions include: Aggleton

et al., 1998; Mengwasser & Walton, 2013; Spencer, 2008). Awarding young people agency to determine their health issues means that a broader definition of health is needed

(Aggleton & Campbell, 2000). Spencer (2013) suggests that:

the relative lack of attention given to young people’s own frames of reference in terms of health is particularly pertinent given the now growing body of evidence that suggests current public health priority areas may not resonate with young people’s own understandings of health and their health-related concerns (p.8).

Thus, broadly asking young people what health means to them is an important step in addressing health issues relevant to young people’s lives. Researchers asking young people about health have found that young people often associate their health with positive

concepts, such as feeling happy and having fun (Mengwasser & Walton, 2013; O’Higgins,

Sixsmith, & Gabhainn, 2010; Spencer, 2014). Health meanings also extend into the social domain: being sociable; having friends; being fair, considerate and kind; and helping others is associated with being healthy (Burrows & Wright, 2004b). Sociocultural factors can however influence how “health” is defined. For instance, Woodgate and Leach (2010) asked young people about “health”, and found that lifestyle practices such as being

physically active or eating healthy emerged as dominant themes. When they rephrased their questions from a general definition of health to a specific application of the term to young people’s own life situations, they found that young people considered a range of broader

factors as determining their health, such as the importance of family and friends and the desire for safe, green, and clean environments.

While it is not always realistic to conduct research free of a particular health issue focus, there is potential to consider a holistic definition of health as the starting point for topic-based inquiries to broaden the range of issues canvassed within health research. For instance, food may not necessarily be linked to physical health for young people. Food

practices may be part of what Whitehead (2005) refers to as a “health journey”, within

which young people use (health) practices to express their individualities, experience pleasure, and promote their psychosocial health. Ioannou (2003, 2009) further supports this view by showing how young people ascribe food practices an everyday meaning associated

with symbolism, socialisation, and self-image. From young people’s point of view, nutrition

thus may not necessarily be linked to physical health. Viewing health topics such as

nutrition across physical, mental, and social health domains offers a much broader spectrum within which to explore health topics with young people.

While granting young people more agency in their health issues, it is nevertheless important to bear in mind that broader macro-level factors remain out of reach and impact on young people’s health. Wyn (2009) identifies that economic (e.g., costs of living), political (e.g., new employment patterns), and socio-cultural (e.g., use of digital media,

consumption patterns) changes in recent decades have significantly affected young people’s

lives, and this transformation is likely to continue steadily. The increasing importance and use of technology has implications for society that cannot yet be fully predicted. Young people’s constant exposure to marketing (e.g., through television and the Internet) affects the way they perceive themselves and others. In the political arena, Wyn concludes that education and health systems have failed to adapt to changing technology accordingly, and do not adequately address young people’s health. Mizen (2004) discusses a general post- WWII shift from Keynesian to Monetarist policies, which has narrowed down the

responsibility the state takes for young people (e.g., there is less resourcing for education) and increased associated surveillance (e.g., there is more control over school attendance), placing more responsibility overall on young people and their families at a time when many families are resource-poor. Policies affecting young people have largely remained focused

on economic development, and been adult-centred (Wyn, 2009). Young people’s health is

complex and determined by a variety of factors beyond their reach. But in this area, also, it is possible to engage youth and give them a voice in macro-level approaches. Young people can voice their concerns about health policies in a sophisticated manner if granted an opportunity (Ott, Rosenberger, McBride, & Woodcox, 2011). For instance, in a

collaborative action inquiry Percy-Smith (2007) engaged young people to visually represent their health issues and problems in a policy-making process that highlighted a gap between professional and young people’s understandings of health. Hearing out young people’s concerns can therefore inform local to large-scale interventions, including policy-making.

In the previous two sections the importance of young people’s present health issues

has been emphasised; and the need to incorporate their perspectives identified as a potential strategy in this endeavour. The new sociology of childhood provides a paradigm for such an approach in health promotion research. Going forward this thesis suggests that an open inquiry into what matters to young people in their health is ideally formulated through a positive approach using an assets-based model.