Prevention Through Belonging In The Joint Project Vorteiljena. Importance Of Social Participation For Health And Well- Being Over The Life Span

BackgroundThe joint project VorteilJena (Prevention through belonging; BMBF FKZ 01KK1401A-C, duration October 2014-September 2018) investigated the interaction of health, social participation and self-esteem in order to derive health promotion measures for modern widespread diseases, such as depression and obesity. The goal was to implement applied research through the development and provision of lifelong practical guides in collaboration with researchers and practitioners.MethodsIn eight scientific subprojects practical tools were developed in close cooperation with target groups (school staff, employees in businesses, older people). This was followed by a3-step evaluation cycle from testing and feasibility assessment to effectiveness testing with pre-post control group studies and practice transfer.ResultsSocial participation, in addition to self-esteem and self-efficacy, proved to be important factors for the conception and implementation of interventions for health promotion in schools, companies and retirement homes. The resulting practical guides are now publicly available as quality-assured, low-threshold offers for innovative and setting-based health promotion.DiscussionThe implementation of the project objective in the respective areas healthy learning, healthy working and healthy ageing is reported and discussed, as are the different ways in which the practical guides are made available to the public.