Is Social Media Believed to Influence Adolescent Health? Identifying Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Public Adolescent Health Care Services: A Qualitative Case Study of Oslo, Norway

Abstract

Existing research suggests that social media (SOME) influences body image perceptions, diet; and exercise behaviours of young adults. As such influence can be health-harming, it is important that local health care services are easily accessed, and adequately provided. Though a municipal report of 2015 revealed mental health challenges, weight and diet to be the most critical challenges among youth aged 0-20 (Municipality of Oslo, 2015), no research has been conducted on the matter, in the context of Norwegian public adolescent health care services. Municipality of Oslo offers public adolescent health care services through School-Based Healthcare Services (SBHS); and in Adolescent Health Clinics (AHCs). However, it is not known if these two arenas are providing adequate health care services, with regards to the potential problems of SOME influence; or whether or not there are any potential barriers or facilitators to access to these services.