What do they look for and what do they find? A coproduced qualitative study on young people's experiences of searching for mental health information online.
adolescents
coproduction
depression symptoms
early help
mental health
online help‐seeking
qualitative
think aloud
Journal
Psychology and psychotherapy
ISSN: 2044-8341
Titre abrégé: Psychol Psychother
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101135751
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
14 Oct 2024
14 Oct 2024
Historique:
received:
15
03
2024
accepted:
18
09
2024
medline:
14
10
2024
pubmed:
14
10
2024
entrez:
14
10
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Many young people (YP) struggle with their mental health and look online for help. To capitalise on their digital presence, we need to better understand how and where they seek information online and what they think of what they find. We recruited 24 YP (aged 13-18 years). Online interviews were co-conducted by research team members and trained young researchers. We presented a persona with depression symptoms and asked about potential sources of information/support they might seek. They were also asked to think aloud while searching online and reviewing mental health resources (NHS, Young Minds). We used reflexive thematic analysis. Analysis generated four themes: (1) the online help-seeking process, showcasing where YP look for information and why; (2) the mismatch between the information YP expected to find and the reality; (3) the strategies YP employed to determine a source's trust and credibility and (4) individual differences that can influence help-seeking. Participants initiated their online search by Googling symptoms. They trusted NHS websites for basic medical information, while charities provided detailed content. Despite scepticism about content, social media offered validation. Online resources should prioritise visual appeal, user-friendliness, age-appropriate and personalised content and peer insights. Codesign is imperative to ensure high-quality, impactful research.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Many young people (YP) struggle with their mental health and look online for help. To capitalise on their digital presence, we need to better understand how and where they seek information online and what they think of what they find.
METHOD
METHODS
We recruited 24 YP (aged 13-18 years). Online interviews were co-conducted by research team members and trained young researchers. We presented a persona with depression symptoms and asked about potential sources of information/support they might seek. They were also asked to think aloud while searching online and reviewing mental health resources (NHS, Young Minds). We used reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Analysis generated four themes: (1) the online help-seeking process, showcasing where YP look for information and why; (2) the mismatch between the information YP expected to find and the reality; (3) the strategies YP employed to determine a source's trust and credibility and (4) individual differences that can influence help-seeking.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Participants initiated their online search by Googling symptoms. They trusted NHS websites for basic medical information, while charities provided detailed content. Despite scepticism about content, social media offered validation. Online resources should prioritise visual appeal, user-friendliness, age-appropriate and personalised content and peer insights. Codesign is imperative to ensure high-quality, impactful research.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Subventions
Organisme : National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
ID : AdvancedFellowship302929
Informations de copyright
© 2024 The Author(s). Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The British Psychological Society.
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