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Youth Perspectives of School-Based Health Education: Findings from a US Youth-Led Nationwide Qualitative Survey

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Title: Youth Perspectives of School-Based Health Education: Findings from a US Youth-Led Nationwide Qualitative Survey
Language: English
Authors: Ashley Durden, Juniar Lucien, Samantha A. Chuisano (ORCID 0000-0002-7734-4958), Beatrice Palazzolo, Zainab Ahm, Nadia Ceaser, Sri Tharika Jothipuram Jayakumar, Preya Patel, Bianca Barraza, Amanda Ajrouche, Jennifer Arroyo, Hasan Khan, Arulvel Rajeswaran, Cindy Ko, Nourin Chowdhury, Melissa DeJonckheere (ORCID 0000-0002-2660-3358)
Source: Health Education Journal. 2026 85(1):15-28.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) (DHHS/NIH)
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (DHHS/NIH)
Contract Number: R25GM137361
K01DK134766
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Health Education, Adolescents, Young Adults, Health Behavior, Attitudes, Curriculum Development, Program Effectiveness, Inclusion, Teacher Competencies, Barriers, Health Needs, Elementary Secondary Education, Physical Health, Mental Health, Sexuality, Information Sources, Relevance (Education)
DOI: 10.1177/00178969251376859
ISSN: 0017-8969
1748-8176
Abstract: Objective: While most primary and secondary school students in the USA participate in school-based health education to promote a healthy lifestyle, adolescents and young adults continue to engage in risk-related behaviour. National guidelines encourage youth inclusion when developing health curricula, but there is minimal evidence of youth voice in current education programmes. High school student co-researchers designed a qualitative survey to gather youth perspectives on health education and guide improvements to future curriculum development. Method: The 5-question survey was sent to 791 14- to 24-year-olds in the USA using a weekly text message poll. The research team and youth co-researchers conducted an iterative thematic analysis of text message responses. Participant demographics were described and differences between responders and non-responders were analysed using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, Chi-square tests and Fisher's exact tests. Results: 506 participants responded to all five survey questions (response rate 64%). Thematic analysis resulted in three final themes with young people (1) feeling that the school-based health education they received was insubstantial; (2) wanting their school-based health education to be inclusive; and (3) wanting school-based health education to be taught by dedicated and trained educators. Conclusion: While young people want to improve their understanding of mental, sexual and physical health to establish healthier habits, current limitations in school-based health education result in many young people feeling excluded and without practical or relevant guidance. Our findings support the need to reform health education so as to comprehensively address youth's diverse and evolving needs.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495909
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Youth Perspectives of School-Based Health Education: Findings from a US Youth-Led Nationwide Qualitative Survey
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  Data: English
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  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ashley+Durden%22">Ashley Durden</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Juniar+Lucien%22">Juniar Lucien</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Samantha+A%2E+Chuisano%22">Samantha A. Chuisano</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7734-4958">0000-0002-7734-4958</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Beatrice+Palazzolo%22">Beatrice Palazzolo</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zainab+Ahm%22">Zainab Ahm</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nadia+Ceaser%22">Nadia Ceaser</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sri+Tharika+Jothipuram+Jayakumar%22">Sri Tharika Jothipuram Jayakumar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Preya+Patel%22">Preya Patel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bianca+Barraza%22">Bianca Barraza</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amanda+Ajrouche%22">Amanda Ajrouche</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jennifer+Arroyo%22">Jennifer Arroyo</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hasan+Khan%22">Hasan Khan</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Arulvel+Rajeswaran%22">Arulvel Rajeswaran</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cindy+Ko%22">Cindy Ko</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nourin+Chowdhury%22">Nourin Chowdhury</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melissa+DeJonckheere%22">Melissa DeJonckheere</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2660-3358">0000-0002-2660-3358</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Health+Education+Journal%22"><i>Health Education Journal</i></searchLink>. 2026 85(1):15-28.
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  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Label: Peer Reviewed
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  Data: Y
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  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 14
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
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  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) (DHHS/NIH)<br />National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)<br />National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (DHHS/NIH)
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  Label: Contract Number
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  Data: R25GM137361<br />K01DK134766
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+Education%22">Health Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+Adults%22">Young Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+Behavior%22">Health Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes%22">Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum+Development%22">Curriculum Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inclusion%22">Inclusion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Competencies%22">Teacher Competencies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+Needs%22">Health Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Health%22">Physical Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexuality%22">Sexuality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Sources%22">Information Sources</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Relevance+%28Education%29%22">Relevance (Education)</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/00178969251376859
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0017-8969<br />1748-8176
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objective: While most primary and secondary school students in the USA participate in school-based health education to promote a healthy lifestyle, adolescents and young adults continue to engage in risk-related behaviour. National guidelines encourage youth inclusion when developing health curricula, but there is minimal evidence of youth voice in current education programmes. High school student co-researchers designed a qualitative survey to gather youth perspectives on health education and guide improvements to future curriculum development. Method: The 5-question survey was sent to 791 14- to 24-year-olds in the USA using a weekly text message poll. The research team and youth co-researchers conducted an iterative thematic analysis of text message responses. Participant demographics were described and differences between responders and non-responders were analysed using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, Chi-square tests and Fisher's exact tests. Results: 506 participants responded to all five survey questions (response rate 64%). Thematic analysis resulted in three final themes with young people (1) feeling that the school-based health education they received was insubstantial; (2) wanting their school-based health education to be inclusive; and (3) wanting school-based health education to be taught by dedicated and trained educators. Conclusion: While young people want to improve their understanding of mental, sexual and physical health to establish healthier habits, current limitations in school-based health education result in many young people feeling excluded and without practical or relevant guidance. Our findings support the need to reform health education so as to comprehensively address youth's diverse and evolving needs.
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1495909
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1495909
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        Value: 10.1177/00178969251376859
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