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ERIC Number: EJ1471649
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0264-3944
EISSN: EISSN-1468-0122
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Exploring the Feasibility of Using Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Mechanism for School Culture Change to Improve Mental Health
Liam Spencer1; Naomi Leonard2; Patricia Jessiman3; Greta Kaluževiciute-Moreton4; Mark Limmer5; Judi Kidger3
Pastoral Care in Education, v43 n2 p242-261 2025
Adolescence is a key time to prevent or reduce poor mental health outcomes. Supportive school environments play an important role in this, and the concept of health-promoting schools have been supported globally. Participatory action research (PAR) combines theory, practice, action, and reflection by developing practical solutions to address concerns and issues within communities. Running four PAR groups across three secondary schools, we explored the feasibility of using the approach as a mechanism for bringing about culture change and improving mental health. We undertook interviews and focus groups with students (n = 24), school staff (n = 11), facilitators (n = 3), and parents/carers (n = 2). Findings are organised under five key headings: 1) Establishing PAR groups, and the PAR cycle; 2) PAR group impact; 3) Facilitators of PAR success; 4) Barriers to PAR success; 5) Future recommendations. This study demonstrated the feasibility of PAR as a tool to improve school culture. Students participating in PAR were engaged, passionate, and motivated to influence and transform school culture to improve mental health. Future research should aim to trial the PAR approach on a larger scale, to determine whether the barriers and facilitators of PAR success identified here are relevant and transferable to schools in other contexts, and to measure the impact of such initiatives on mental health outcomes.
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; 2MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; 3Bristol Population Health Science Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; 4Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; 5Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK