Adolescent girls

1
Adolescent girls and boys perceptions of the
concept mental health

• Agneta Johansson, PhD student
• Dep. of Health Sciences
• Örebro University
• Sweden
• agneta.johansson_at_hi.oru.se

2

• Mental health from the perspective of
  adolescents, perceived as an emotional
  experience. Descriptive categories.
• Emotions
• Positive Negative
• Internal _________________________________________
  _____
• A feeling of being happy A feeling of being
  unhappy
• A feeling of harmony A feeling of lack of
  meaning and hope A feeling of being a A
  feeling of being good person stressed
• A feeling of having a A feeling of having a
  bad
• good self-confidence self-confidence

3

• Emotions
• Positive Negative
• Relational
• _____________________________________________
• A feeling of being liked A feeling of not being
  liked and being lonely
• A feeling of being loved A feeling of
• by your parents being unhappy at home
• A feeling of having
• people to talk with

4

• - I dont know, happy.
• - Happy, tip-top.
• - Thumbs up.
• - You are happy you are kind to everybody and
  you socialize more than if you feel badly.
• (Focus group, boys, 16 ys.)

5

• You dont feel well, you dont have any friends
  and such.
• (Focus group, boys, 13 ys.)

6

• If I could change two things in the world,
• it would be to stop bullying and war,
  because I find those things bad.
• (Individual, girl, 13 ys.)

7

• To be able to tell your parents things if there
  is a problem and, well, just enjoy talking to
  your parents. Having the courage to tell them
  things.
• (Individual, girl, 16 ys)

8

• It feels like there is no use, it wouldnt matter
  if somebody ran me over now or something.
• (Individual, girl, 16 ys.)

9

• - I think that most guys would answer that they
  are ok even if they are not.
• - Yes.
• I Oh yes, why?
• - They will not dare to say.
• - No.
• I They do not dare to say?
• - Bad self-confidence.
• (Focus group, boys, 16 ys.)

10
Conclusion

• Are the differences reported about girls feeling
  worse mentally than boys, actual differences in
  health, or more differences in attitude?
• Differences in age seem to be more important than
  in gender.