Advanced search
Publication Cover
Psychology & Health Latest Articles
Submit an article Journal homepage
299
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

‘A healthy lifestyle is a journey’: exploring health perceptions and self-defined facilitators to health through photo-elicitation

Iga Palacz-Poborczyka Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University, Wroclaw, PolandCorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5351-2016View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Kerry Chamberlainb School of Psychology, Massey University, Auckland, New ZealandORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1011-4293View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Felix Naughtonc Behavioural and Implementation Science Group, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UKORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9790-2796View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Alicja Baskad Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Lifestyle Medicine, School of Public Health, Warsaw, PolandORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8887-7453View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Aleksandra Luszczynskaa Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University, Wroclaw, PolandORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4704-9544View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Eleanor Questede Physical Activity and Well-being Research Group, enAble Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia;f Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6211-9045View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Martin S. Haggerg Department of Psychological Sciences and Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, USA;h Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FinlandORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2685-1546View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Sherry Pagotoi Department of Allied Health Sciences, The UConn Center for mHealth and Social Media, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USAORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2462-8797View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Peter Verboonj Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open Universiteit Nederland, Heerlen, The NetherlandsORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8656-0890View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Suzanne Robinsonf Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5703-6475View further author information
ORCID Icon &
Dominika Kwasnickaa Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University, Wroclaw, Poland;k NHMRC CRE in Digital Technology to Transform Chronic Disease Outcomes, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5961-837XView further author information
ORCID Icon show all
Received 08 Nov 2022, Accepted 23 Aug 2023, Published online: 07 Sep 2023
 
Sample our Behavioral Sciences journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore health perceptions and self-defined facilitators to health in general population. An additional aim of the study was to assess if these perceptions were connected with the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design

We applied photo-elicitation method by gathering original photographs and narratives (captions) via social media and e-mails. Participants (N = 50) were asked to answer the question: ‘What does it mean to be healthy?’. Data were collected online in Poland. We generated and interpreted the main themes associated with common perceptions of health and self-defined facilitators to health using polytextual thematic analysis.

Results

The health perception themes were, health as: a ‘long journey’; keeping balance; and self-acceptance. The main facilitators to health were: enjoyment of activities that are part of a healthy lifestyle; planning time for rest; contact with nature, and supportive relationships. Participants’ perceptions of how Covid-19 impacted on their health differed.

Conclusions

The findings provide evidence for individual health perceptions and self-defined facilitators to health and can support the development of future health interventions.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Iga Palacz-Poborczyk, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The project was carried out within the HOMING program of the Foundation for Polish Science co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund; grant number: POIR.04.04.00-00-5CF3/18-00; HOMING 5/2018.

Log in via your institution

Access through your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

Restore content access

Restore content access for purchases made as guest
Purchase options * Save for later

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 458.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.