Exploring key factors related to child well-being: a community-based participatory research together with children with migration background residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Malmö, Sweden

BackgroundChildren with migration background, living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, are exposed to numerous risk that can negatively affect their well-being. Understanding which key factors build and enable well-being of children with these experiences are therefore essential to support...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Louise Burenby Yxne, Rathi Ramji, Elisabeth Mangrio, Katarina Sjögren Forss, Therese Sterner, Margareta Rämgård
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1587678/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849714775566581760
author Louise Burenby Yxne
Louise Burenby Yxne
Rathi Ramji
Rathi Ramji
Elisabeth Mangrio
Elisabeth Mangrio
Elisabeth Mangrio
Katarina Sjögren Forss
Katarina Sjögren Forss
Therese Sterner
Therese Sterner
Margareta Rämgård
Margareta Rämgård
author_facet Louise Burenby Yxne
Louise Burenby Yxne
Rathi Ramji
Rathi Ramji
Elisabeth Mangrio
Elisabeth Mangrio
Elisabeth Mangrio
Katarina Sjögren Forss
Katarina Sjögren Forss
Therese Sterner
Therese Sterner
Margareta Rämgård
Margareta Rämgård
author_sort Louise Burenby Yxne
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundChildren with migration background, living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, are exposed to numerous risk that can negatively affect their well-being. Understanding which key factors build and enable well-being of children with these experiences are therefore essential to support and strengthen their positive development and possibilities to feel well. Studies that include children’s own perspectives and voices in initiatives that concerns them is however scarce, and there is an increased need for participation of children with diverse experiences and life situations in research and knowledge production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to, through a participatory process, explore and enhance the understanding of key factors in the social context that contribute to child well-being among children with a migration background.MethodsThirty-one children, aged 9–12, from three disadvantaged areas in Malmö, Sweden, participated together with researchers in a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) team, exploring factors related to their well-being in their social context. Multi-stage focus groups were held over a year (2023–2024), with different sessions facilitating dialog on the research topic. In total, 49 sessions took place, each on average duration of 1.5 h. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsFour main themes, representing key factors related to child well-being, were identified: Enriching Leisure Time, Resourceful Places, Belonging to a Community and Welfare System and Rights. The themes covered structural aspects, such as school, healthcare and human rights, but also more personal dimensions, like close relations and the near environment, related to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of human development.ConclusionThe dialogs with the children provided a deeper understanding and a holistic view of the perceptions of children with migration backgrounds residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas regarding essential factors for their well-being. Future research should focus on developing strategies that ensure children’s access to the factors they have identified as fundamental to their well-being. Our study has further shown that it is pivotal to ensure children’s inclusion and participation in health promotion initiatives. These initiatives need to be contextually relevant and work toward building community capacity, to promote child well-being.
format Article
id doaj-art-e6a20fbb107e4de3af6e4a80aeb3f57f
institution DOAJ
issn 2296-2565
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Public Health
spelling doaj-art-e6a20fbb107e4de3af6e4a80aeb3f57f2025-08-20T03:13:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15876781587678Exploring key factors related to child well-being: a community-based participatory research together with children with migration background residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Malmö, SwedenLouise Burenby Yxne0Louise Burenby Yxne1Rathi Ramji2Rathi Ramji3Elisabeth Mangrio4Elisabeth Mangrio5Elisabeth Mangrio6Katarina Sjögren Forss7Katarina Sjögren Forss8Therese Sterner9Therese Sterner10Margareta Rämgård11Margareta Rämgård12Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenCitizen Health, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenDepartment of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenCitizen Health, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenDepartment of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenCitizen Health, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenMalmö Institute for Migration Studies, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenDepartment of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenCitizen Health, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenDepartment of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenCitizen Health, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenDepartment of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenCitizen Health, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenBackgroundChildren with migration background, living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, are exposed to numerous risk that can negatively affect their well-being. Understanding which key factors build and enable well-being of children with these experiences are therefore essential to support and strengthen their positive development and possibilities to feel well. Studies that include children’s own perspectives and voices in initiatives that concerns them is however scarce, and there is an increased need for participation of children with diverse experiences and life situations in research and knowledge production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to, through a participatory process, explore and enhance the understanding of key factors in the social context that contribute to child well-being among children with a migration background.MethodsThirty-one children, aged 9–12, from three disadvantaged areas in Malmö, Sweden, participated together with researchers in a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) team, exploring factors related to their well-being in their social context. Multi-stage focus groups were held over a year (2023–2024), with different sessions facilitating dialog on the research topic. In total, 49 sessions took place, each on average duration of 1.5 h. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsFour main themes, representing key factors related to child well-being, were identified: Enriching Leisure Time, Resourceful Places, Belonging to a Community and Welfare System and Rights. The themes covered structural aspects, such as school, healthcare and human rights, but also more personal dimensions, like close relations and the near environment, related to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of human development.ConclusionThe dialogs with the children provided a deeper understanding and a holistic view of the perceptions of children with migration backgrounds residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas regarding essential factors for their well-being. Future research should focus on developing strategies that ensure children’s access to the factors they have identified as fundamental to their well-being. Our study has further shown that it is pivotal to ensure children’s inclusion and participation in health promotion initiatives. These initiatives need to be contextually relevant and work toward building community capacity, to promote child well-being.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1587678/fullchild well-beingCommunity-Based Participatory Researchparticipatory action research (PAR)migrationsocioeconomically disadvantaged areassocioecological model
spellingShingle Louise Burenby Yxne
Louise Burenby Yxne
Rathi Ramji
Rathi Ramji
Elisabeth Mangrio
Elisabeth Mangrio
Elisabeth Mangrio
Katarina Sjögren Forss
Katarina Sjögren Forss
Therese Sterner
Therese Sterner
Margareta Rämgård
Margareta Rämgård
Exploring key factors related to child well-being: a community-based participatory research together with children with migration background residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Malmö, Sweden
Frontiers in Public Health
child well-being
Community-Based Participatory Research
participatory action research (PAR)
migration
socioeconomically disadvantaged areas
socioecological model
title Exploring key factors related to child well-being: a community-based participatory research together with children with migration background residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Malmö, Sweden
title_full Exploring key factors related to child well-being: a community-based participatory research together with children with migration background residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Malmö, Sweden
title_fullStr Exploring key factors related to child well-being: a community-based participatory research together with children with migration background residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Malmö, Sweden
title_full_unstemmed Exploring key factors related to child well-being: a community-based participatory research together with children with migration background residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Malmö, Sweden
title_short Exploring key factors related to child well-being: a community-based participatory research together with children with migration background residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Malmö, Sweden
title_sort exploring key factors related to child well being a community based participatory research together with children with migration background residing in socio economically disadvantaged areas of malmo sweden
topic child well-being
Community-Based Participatory Research
participatory action research (PAR)
migration
socioeconomically disadvantaged areas
socioecological model
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1587678/full
work_keys_str_mv AT louiseburenbyyxne exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT louiseburenbyyxne exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT rathiramji exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT rathiramji exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT elisabethmangrio exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT elisabethmangrio exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT elisabethmangrio exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT katarinasjogrenforss exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT katarinasjogrenforss exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT theresesterner exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT theresesterner exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT margaretaramgard exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden
AT margaretaramgard exploringkeyfactorsrelatedtochildwellbeingacommunitybasedparticipatoryresearchtogetherwithchildrenwithmigrationbackgroundresidinginsocioeconomicallydisadvantagedareasofmalmosweden