Empowerment, young people and health

摘要: This study has examined concepts of empowerment as they relate to young people's health. Beginning with an analysis recent theories power, the thesis offers a critical exploration conceptualisation and identifies how current uses of the term appear have moved away from many their original theoretical underpinnings. Identifying these tensions provided impetus for empirical enquiry which sought critically question relationship between people's health. The goal investigation was reveal possibilities for, limitations of, empowerment among people. Informed by interpretivist epistemology drawing upon ethnographic methods, data were collected people aged 15-16 years through focus group discussions, individual interviews observational data in school surrounding community settings. Themes drawn research were analysed implications `emic' conceptualisations health empowerment. Key findings pointed people's preference more positive understandings health. Participants described dominant perceptions 'immature' 'risky' negatively impacted on health; shaping subsequent of, their empowerment. Based informed Steven Lukes' (2005) tripartite perspective new conceptual framework understanding the concept its