Abstract
In this chapter we present the findings of research that employed quantitative methods. We did this in order to illustrate that it is possible to conduct empirical studies of holistic concepts in the field of child health. Four examples of holistic assessment are presented, representing development of: (1) A composite measure describing contextual determinants of health (family systems); (2) A composite measure describing engagement in multiple risk-taking; and (3) A composite measure of self-perceived child health status; and confirmation of (4) A single item measure of self-perceived child health status. All analyses used data from the 2014 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, a sample comprised of 29,784 grade 6–10 students from 377 schools across Canada. Overall, we demonstrate that not only is it possible to create holistic measures by applying quantitative methods, but that these measures are also stronger predictors/correlates of health than their individual components. The individual components are interrelated and their health-related risks are interdependent. Finally, the single self-rated health item is briefly described as a simple, yet potentially useful and powerful measure of holistic health.
Organic or unified ‘wholes’ have value and qualities which are inherently different from, and cannot be reduced to, the sum of their individual parts.
—Christakis
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Michaelson, V., King, N., Pickett, W. (2018). Testing the Theory of Holism in Child Health Settings Using Quantitative Approaches. In: Holistic Health in Children: Conceptualization, Assessment and Potential. SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64831-6_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64831-6_4
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