YEAH! Program
University of Thessaly
Promoting Youth Health through a Holistic Approach
YEAH! Project
Project Overview
The YEAH! project (Youth hEAlth from a Holistic perspective) is a Horizon Europe initiative coordinated by the Université of Grenoble Alpes (UGA) in France and will be implemented in 10 European countries in collaboration with 15 other partners, including the University of Thessaly, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (DPESS). This ambitious five-year project, which will be completed by the end of 2029, is funded with €10 million under the highly competitive Horizon Europe program. It aims to comprehensively study and improve the health and physical activity of children (8-10 years old) and adolescents (14-16 years old).
Objective:
To develop an innovative, personalized program that targets key health behaviors, including physical activity, screen time, diet, and sleep,
while training the social environment of young people to adopt interaction styles that foster healthy behaviors.
Particular emphasis is placed on supporting socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
University of Thessaly & Exercise Psychology Laboratory
The University of Thessaly is among Greece’s largest and most research-intensive institutions. Within DPESS, the Exercise Psychology & Quality of Life Laboratory investigates psychological determinants of exercise participation and examines how sport and physical activity affect mental health and overall well-being. The laboratory possesses extensive experience in designing and implementing evidence-based interventions aimed at promoting exercise adherence and improving quality of life.
Implementation Phases
The project unfolds in three strategically designed phases:
Phases 1 & 2
Years 1 & 2: Focus on the development of the behavioral intervention, including the technical creation of the mobile application that will serve as a central tool for both young participants and their social circles.
Phase 3
Year 3: Deployment of the core intervention in seven countries, including Greece, and engagement of thousands of children and adolescents, alongside parents, peers, educators, and coaches.
Phases 4 & 5
Year 4 and 5: Comprehensive assessment of intervention outcomes, dissemination of findings and best practices to stakeholders and policymakers
"YEAH! is a fantastic opportunity to design and implement an intervention from start to finish and test it on a large scale. Our ultimate goal is a global rollout, engaging as many schools as possible to create a ripple effect."
- Aïna Chalabaev, Project Coordinator, University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA)
European Collaboration
The YEAH! project stands out as one of only three selected for funding out of 119 proposals submitted under the Health Cluster of Horizon Europe's Pillar 2. This success highlights the project's innovative approach and the strength of its consortium. Coordinated by UGA, the project brings together 16 European partners from France, Romania, Denmark, Spain, Greece, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Finland, and the Netherlands, creating a truly international research network.
University of Thessaly Research Team
The Greek consortium is led by Professor Athanasios Papaioannou, Scientific Director for UTH.
Key contributors include:
- Professor Nikos Komoutos
- Professor Nikos Digelidis
- Associate Professor Charalampos Krommydas
- Dr Maria Angeli, Postdoctoral Researcher
- PhD candidates (to be recruited)
- External Collaborators
Funding: This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program under Grant Agreement No 101155977.
The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency.
