School Health As a Social Ecosystem: Food, Community Systems. Media and Risk Behaviours As Determinants of Health

This session examines school health from a sociological perspective, focusing on how learner well-being is shaped by interconnected social systems, including food environments, media influences, substance abuse, parental support, and broader community structures. The session posits that schools are embedded within broader networks of influence that can either support or undermine learner development. Food insecurity, unhealthy school food environments, and unequal access to nutrition directly affect concentration, attendance, and overall well-being. At the same time, media exposure and digital cultures shape young people's identities, aspirations, and health behaviours, often normalising harmful consumption patterns and risky conduct. Substance abuse is considered not simply as an individual problem, but as a socially patterned behaviour linked to peer dynamics, family stress, and community context. Parental support and community cohesion are highlighted as protective factors that strengthen resilience, promote healthy decision-making, and enhance school engagement. By situating health within these interconnected systems, this session offers a more holistic understanding of learner well-being and calls for multi-level responses that move beyond narrow, behaviour-focused interventions. It will be relevant to researchers, educators, policymakers, and practitioners interested in health promotion, social determinants of health, and the role of schools as sites of care, prevention, and social transformation.