Register      Login
Health Promotion Journal of Australia Health Promotion Journal of Australia Society
Journal of the Australian Health Promotion Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Using rap music to promote adolescent health: pilot study of VoxBox

Ernesta Paukste A B C and Neil Harris A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Medicine, Gold Coast campus, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Qld 4222, Australia.

B Population and Social Health Research Program, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Gold Coast campus, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Qld 4222, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: e.paukste@griffith.edu.au

Health Promotion Journal of Australia 26(1) 24-29 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE14054
Submitted: 20 June 2014  Accepted: 6 January 2015   Published: 2 April 2015

Abstract

Issue addressed: Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATODs) usage among adolescents, particularly those living in lower socioeconomic communities, is a population health problem in Australia that requires innovative health promotion strategies. There is a growing recognition of the potential of arts-based approaches to engage youth in health promoting activities. This paper presents the process evaluation of the pilot VoxBox intervention that used rap to build adolescents’ awareness of risks associated with ATODs.

Methods: The VoxBox intervention was piloted in Logan, Queensland, at five high schools with 18 adolescents completing the intervention. Data collection methods included observation, focus groups, semi-structured interviews and a survey of adolescent participants.

Results: The intervention was well received by participants and stakeholders. Three factors characterising the project’s successful engagement of adolescents were: participate – go with the flow, learning from the real deal and resourced to make some noise.

Conclusion: In VoxBox, the emphasis on engaging adolescents in an activity of real interest that was appropriately resourced and delivered was central to credibility and success.

So what?: The findings highlight the importance of interventions matching the interests of the targeted population group.

Key words: adolescents, health behaviours, health education, program evaluation.


References

[1]  Kuper H, Adami HO, Boffetta P (2002) Tobacco use, cancer causation and public health impact. J Intern Med 251, 455–66.
Tobacco use, cancer causation and public health impact.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD38vgt12gsA%3D%3D&md5=5c894e2056434145c02201af97683a4cCAS | 12028500PubMed |

[2]  Humphrey G, Casswell S, Han DY (2003) Alcohol and injury among attendees at a New Zealand emergency department. New Zeal Med J 116, 1–10.

[3]  Boden JM, Fergusson DM (2011) Alcohol and depression. Addiction 106, 906–14.
Alcohol and depression.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21382111PubMed |

[4]  Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Drugs in Australia 2010: tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011 Contract No.: 27.

[5]  Merline AC, O’Malley PM, Schulenberg JE, Bachman JG, Johnston LD (2004) Substance use among adults 35 years of age: prevalence, adulthood predictors, and impact of adolescent substance use. Am J Public Health 94, 96–102.
Substance use among adults 35 years of age: prevalence, adulthood predictors, and impact of adolescent substance use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14713705PubMed |

[6]  Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National drug strategy household survey: state and territory supplement. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2007.

[7]  Crane PR, Buckley J, Francis C. Youth alcohol and drug good practice guide 1: a framework for youth alcohol and other drug practice. Brisbane: Dovetail, 2012.

[8]  Stafford J, Allsop S, Daube M (2014) From evidence to action: health promotion and alcohol. Health Promot J Austr 25, 8–13.
From evidence to action: health promotion and alcohol.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24739773PubMed |

[9]  Romero AJ (2005) Low-income neighborhood barriers and resources for adolescents’ physical activity. J Adolescent Health 36, 253–9.
Low-income neighborhood barriers and resources for adolescents’ physical activity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[10]  Due P, Lynch J, Holstein B, Modvig J (2003) Socioeconomic health inequalities among a nationally representative sample of danish adolescents: the role of different types of social relations. J Epidemiol Community Health 57, 692–8.
Socioeconomic health inequalities among a nationally representative sample of danish adolescents: the role of different types of social relations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3szps1Sruw%3D%3D&md5=7fd53cac5938e748474a2bc05c20e47bCAS | 12933775PubMed |

[11]  Jenson JM (2010) Advances in preventing childhood and adolescent problem behavior. Res Social Work Prac 20, 701–13.
Advances in preventing childhood and adolescent problem behavior.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[12]  Salmon J, Booth ML, Phongsavan P, Murphy N, Timperio A (2007) Promoting physical activity participation among children and adolescents. Epidemiol Rev 29, 144–59.
Promoting physical activity participation among children and adolescents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17556765PubMed |

[13]  Harris N, Wilks L, Stewart D, Gopinath V, MacCubbin S. Street dance and adolescent wellbeing: using hip-hop to promote resilience in youth. In Brader A, editor. Songs of resilience (pp. 73–96). UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing; 2011.

[14]  Daykin N, Orme J, Evans D, Salmon D, McEachran M, Brain S (2008) The impact of participation in performing arts on adolescent health and behaviour: a systematic review of the literature. J Health Psychol 13, 251–64.

[15]  McEwan A, Crouch A, Robertson H, Fagan P (2013) The Torres Indigenous Hip Hop Project: evaluating the use of performing arts as a medium for sexual health promotion. Health Promot J Austr 24, 132–6.
The Torres Indigenous Hip Hop Project: evaluating the use of performing arts as a medium for sexual health promotion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24168740PubMed |

[16]  Harris N, Wilks L, Stewart D (2012) HYPEd-up: youth dance culture and health. Arts Health 4, 239–48.
HYPEd-up: youth dance culture and health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[17]  Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth). Building health through arts and new media, VicHealth action plan 2010–13. Victoria, Australia: VicHealth; 2010.

[18]  Hazzard-Donald K. Dance in hip-hop culture. In Forman M, Neal MA, editors. That’s the joint!: the hip-hop studies reader (pp. 584–97). New York: NY: Routledge; 2004.

[19]  Walser R (1995) Rhythm, rhyme, and rhetoric in the music of public enemy. Ethnomusicology 39, 193–217.
Rhythm, rhyme, and rhetoric in the music of public enemy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[20]  Hoffmann JP (2006) Extracurricular activities, athletic participation, and adolescent alcohol use: gender-differentiated and school-contextual effects. J Health Soc Behav 47, 275–90.
Extracurricular activities, athletic participation, and adolescent alcohol use: gender-differentiated and school-contextual effects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17066777PubMed |

[21]  Beaulac J, Olavarria M, Kristjansson E (2010) A community-based hip-hop dance program for youth in a disadvantaged community in Ottawa: implementation findings. Health Promot Pract 11, 61S–9S.
A community-based hip-hop dance program for youth in a disadvantaged community in Ottawa: implementation findings.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20488970PubMed |