Evaluating stealth health and environmental conservation education among diverse youth in California: moving towards narrowing disparities

Adolescents living in low-income neighborhoods are at greater risk of engaging in unhealthy behaviors. To promote the adoption of healthy behaviors, we the authors incorporated health education into an environmental conservation framework as a stealth intervention in low-income urban middle schools in Northern California, USA. Using a quasi-experimental design among 169 children, 87 sixth grade students in one of the schools were offered: (1) online health educational modules and mentorship by college students as part of a community engaged learning experience, and (2) an outdoor experiential field trip in a natural environment setting. Participants took pre- and post-tests to measure knowledge and behavior change and completed post-field trip reflections. A comparison group of 82 students received the educational intervention after the completion of pre-and post-tests by both groups. Quantitative data evaluation demonstrated that students in the intervention school significantly improved knowledge levels. Improvements in several behavior metrics were also observed, although they did not reach the level of statistical significance. Qualitative data analysis underscored students’ appreciation for outdoor activities and willingness to preserve their environment. The evaluation indicates that harnessing interconnections between health and the environment can increase knowledge and help achieve the adoption of positive health-related behaviors in students from low-income urban communities.