The health processes of children and adolescents are affected by contemporary societal discourse on values, identity formation and digitalization. It is important to make visible sexual diversity, enable healthy relationships and to prevent relationship violence. Digitalization may be utilized to contribute to and sustain health in an undertaking to gradually advance equal and sustainable development in society when supported by a health-promotive approach and a focus on the identification of resources over time.

Health and sustainable development in a digitalized society is founded on evidence-based knowledge through critical examination and consideration of the field of tension that evolves in relation to central concepts such as integrity and participation.

Important factors

Cultural norms and concepts regarding gender and sexuality are important factors in school sex education programs as they take place during a stage when sexual values are formed, which in turn influence the individual’s sexuality over time. Research has shown that sex education programs in school need to communicate information on sexual diversity, impart knowledge on building healthy relationships and initiate discussions in class on sexual values and relationships among adolescents.

Thus, the ambition is to consistently impart knowledge to adolescents on effects of social media usage, the meaning of sexual consent and prevention of relationship violence.

Focus on health promotion in general

The objective of this research project is to increase knowledge on the effect of health promotion on the life style of children and adolescent in a digitalized society. The project focuses on health promotion in general and, specifically, directed towards the efforts and sex education programs provided in schools on the topic of sexuality, sexual consent, relationships and digitalization.