Promoting Healthy Lifestyles in Schools: An Evaluation of The Participatory Adolescent Strategy Health Action (Pasha)

Abstract

Background – Adolescence is a critical developmental stage characterized by the establishment of lifestyle habits that significantly influence lifelong health trajectories. Unhealthy practices, such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and inadequate sleep, are primary contributors to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. The Participatory Adolescence Strategy Health Action (PASHA) program was designed to promote positive lifestyle modifications through structured, interactive health education. As outlined in the preliminary foundational document, ABSTRACT for Manu.docx, this study evaluates the effectiveness of the PASHA program on lifestyle practices among school-going adolescents in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Methods – A quantitative, quasi-experimental study was conducted using a purposive sample of 30 school-going adolescents (aged 13–17 years) in Dehradun. Data were collected using a self-structured demographic questionnaire and a validated Healthy Lifestyle Score tool (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.72) assessing seven domains: physical activity, diet, stress management, environmental responsibility, substance use, preventive health, and social well-being. A pre-test was followed by the PASHA intervention, and a post-test was administered to measure changes in lifestyle practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and chi-square tests. Results- The mean lifestyle practice score significantly improved from $20.27 \pm 2.33$ in the pre-test to $21.87 \pm 1.83$ in the post-test, yielding a mean gain of 1.60 points ($t = 4.22$, $df = 29$, $p < 0.001$). The proportion of adolescents demonstrating a “High” level of healthy lifestyle practices increased from 63.3% to 96.7% post-intervention. No statistically significant associations were found between pre-test lifestyle practice scores and socio-demographic variables ($p > 0.05$). Conclusion – The PASHA program is a highly effective, participatory educational intervention for improving lifestyle practices among adolescents. Integrating such participatory health strategies into school curricula can foster sustainable, health-promoting behaviors.