Changing role of school health education in the context of Polish youth Internet (over)use

Abstract

School health education is supposed to be aimed at taking actions based on the concept of positive health and good well-being but its scope is extending due to socio – cultural changes. Nowadays virtual world is becoming a part of the social reality and is perceived as an important socialization factor. For this reason Internet use should be treated as one of the health education areas as it influences psychosocial health and wellbeing of individuals. The article presents the Polish educational system and the place of health education in core curriculum. This issues constitute a theoretical framework for reporting the findings of research, which were aimed at determining the behaviours of Polish pupils undertaken in virtual space. The main goal of the research was to establish the influence of these behaviours on physical and psychosocial health as well as wellbeing of respondents. A similar studies were conducted by Sonia Livingstone, Michał Klichowski and Maciej Tanaś. The research proved the strong engagement of pupils surveyed in all types of Internet activities, which had an impact on occurring disorders of many areas of functioning (e.g. back pains, visual problems, tiredness, anxiety, insomnia, learning difficulties, social problems). The findings justified the urgent need to include the issues regarding safe and healthy behaviours undertaken in cyber space in health education curriculum. In conclusion some guidelines for educational practice have been formulated.