Understanding children: a qualitative study on health assets of the Internet in Spain

Objectives This research was designed to explore the opinions held by primary school pupils about the Internet as a source of assets for health and well-being. Methods A qualitative study was carried out based on 8 focus groups comprising 64 pupils from 8 primary schools in Spain. Results Our findings describe the Internet as a tool for learning, communication, fun and health care. In addition, they reveal how children understand influences on health and well-being in relation to their view of the Internet. The results are discussed in terms of the public-health implications of digital literacy, as well as its connection to well-being, especially in relation to health assets. Conclusions The Internet is an important resource for children’s health and well-being, which, through learning, communication, fun and health care, encourages them to make use of it. Digital and health literacy constitutes the foundation required for browsing the Internet in a positive way, as identified by the children interviewed in this study, and especially in relation to the health assets that the Internet can contain.