Quality of life, and wellbeing of children and youth: a top priority
"Well-being and quality of life of children and young people should be our foremost priority," according to Shazly Savahl, the current Prince Claus Research Chair in Equity and Development. "Research has consistently demonstrated that investing in youth has direct, positive implications for children’s developmental trajectories, leading to higher levels of well-being and quality of life into adulthood." Savahl is Professor of social and research psychology based at the University of the Western Cape and Utrecht University.
What will be the focus of your work as the Prince Claus Chair?
The focus of my work as the incumbent Prince Claus Chair is to advance the science of well-being and quality of life research in children and youth from a global social justice perspective. This Chair is founded on the belief that investing in the well-being and quality of life of children and young people should be our foremost priority. Research has consistently demonstrated that such investment has direct, positive implications for children’s developmental trajectories, leading to higher levels of well-being and quality of life into adulthood. Ultimately, this results in significant socio-economic benefits for nations.
What inspires you to conduct research that crosses the boundaries of disciplines, sectors, and countries?
I believe that as child researchers, our responsibility is to reshape how societies think of and invest in children and young people. To that end, I am convinced that we need to develop collaborative, multidisciplinary teams who are committed to foregrounding children’s voices through participatory initiatives and harnessing evidence-based research to develop programs and policies for children and young people. This requires collaboration across disciplines and contexts as well as the creation of opportunities for emerging researchers. I want to prioritise a child and youth-centred perspective, ensuring that children’s and young people’s views inform all programs and social policy decisions. This approach, grounded in a social justice framework, is a moral imperative; ultimately, we strive for a child-conscious society.
I believe that as child researchers, our responsibility is to reshape how societies think of and invest in children and young people.
What is the work that you are most proud of?
Our work on the Children’s Worlds International Survey on Well-Being and the Multinational Qualitative Study on Children’s Understandings of Well-Being has collectively made substantial contributions to the science of well-being and contributed to methodological, theoretical and epistemological advancements. Overall, these studies, conducted across many diverse contexts, have demonstrated that children and young people have the cognitive capacity to meaningfully reflect and report on their lives and well-being.
How can policymakers, parents, or teachers use your findings to improve outcomes of youth?
Our experience shows that evidence-based research on children’s subjective well-being provides crucial insights for improving their quality of life. Through our work, we have engaged with policymakers in designing and developing targeted interventions, such as inclusive education policies or community programs that enhance psychosocial well-being. Through the dissemination of our research, we have provided parents with valuable information on how to foster supportive home environments, promote balanced routines, and nurture resilience. Much of our findings have been in the school and education setting. Teachers can create positive, engaging classrooms that enhance learners’ sense of self, belonging, and satisfaction.
Has working on this topic changed anything in your personal or professional life?
I have dedicated my entire professional life to improving the lives and well-being of children and young people. I remain inspired by the collaborative efforts of like-minded colleagues from South Africa and in many contexts around the world. While our work was slow to commence, the momentum over the past two decades has been phenomenal. We are now in a position where we have made methodological, theoretical, and epistemological advancements, which are making substantial contributions to developing programs and social policies for children and young people. Essentially, our efforts have resulted in a real-world impact on the lived experiences of children and young people. Our shift towards a social justice approach and challenging social inequities has also been widely accepted by the community of child researchers – this shift is a positive trend for the future.
Our efforts have resulted in a real-world impact on the lives of children and young people. Our shift towards a social justice approach and challenging social inequities has also been widely accepted by the community of child researchers – this shift is a positive trend for the future.
Is there anything in particular that gives you hope for the future?
There seems to be a growing acknowledgement and acceptance of the importance of conducting child-centred research and foregrounding children’s views and perspectives amongst civil society, social policy, and program developers. This has created impetus for further work and collaboration amongst colleagues from diverse fields. This multidisciplinary approach augurs well for future research and, ultimately, a greater yield for societal impact.
This article was previously published in the magazine Our planet, our youth, our future!
This magazine, Our Planet, Our Youth, Our Future! explores the global connections between youth well-being, sustainability, and planetary health. By listening to and working alongside youth, researchers from Utrecht University and Utrecht Medical Centre seek to shape a more just, sustainable world. The magazine is a joint publication by Dynamics of Youth, UGlobe, and Child Health (UMC Utrecht).