A photovoice study of school belongingness among high school students in Norway

ABSTRACT

Although high school graduation is important for living conditions and health throughout life, many students do not complete. In Norway’s northern most county, Finnmark, up to 45% of students do not complete high school. Contrary to prior research that has primarily focused on causes for dropout, this study’s aim was to deepen understanding of factors that support high school attendance. A strengths-based participatory approach using photovoice addressed attendance factors as perceived by seven participating students from one high school in Finnmark. Qualitative content analysis of data generated through group dialogue about participant-generated photos and individual interviews identified six factors important for students’ school attendance: a supportive school environment, a good learning environment, recuperation and recreation, family and friends, goals and ambitions, and place attachment. Related aspects of a supportive environment and belongingness, where school staff made important contributions to promoting a positive environment, were essential.

KEYWORDS:

• Upper secondary school
• school dropout
• high north
• youth
• health promotion

Acknowledgments

The project was part of a collaboration between Canadian and Scandinavian senior researchers focusing on public health issues in the High North. The first author conducted the study as part of her Masters degree in Public Health Science.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education under the High North Programme Grant [number HNPla-2013/10027].