9th Biennial ACSPRI Social Science Methodology Conference

Adolescents most in need of wellbeing support are the least likely to seek support independently. Self-reports are most reliable way to measure wellbeing, however, such reports are not always accessible or cost effective to obtain. This highlights the challenge of identifying those most in need. Through novel WhatsApp instant message interviews, we asked adolescents, the knowledge experts in this area.
1. Who can make a judgement of your wellbeing?
2. How do you communicate your low wellbeing?
3. With whom do you communicate you low wellbeing?
Conducting qualitative interviews using digital messages through WhatsApp, we engaged with young people in their native space. This format limited or reversed the power differential between the interviewer and interviewee, increased the level of anonymity, and gave the adolescent participants full freedom and control within the interview. The data collected was rich, and verbose, and the young people commented on how they enjoyed these interactions.
The research design successfully overcame the key challenge of engaging with adolescents from a general, non-clinical population. By meeting the young people in their own environment; online and conducting interviews in a setting and at a time that that was convenient for them highlighted that the young person was the key driver of these interactions. The interviewer was careful not to place any logistic or systematic barriers between her and the participants. This was done by timing of interviews that were most comfortable for the young person, the endless possibility of locations for both the interviewer and interviewee, and not putting any rules or guidelines around language, speed of response, or discussing interruptions. The outcome, was young people connecting fully, offering long and clear responses, and having free flowing back and forward conversation.
Through grounded theory thematic analysis, the data collected has provided valuable insights into the nuanced ways young people navigate the judgements of others and have implications for supporting young people's mental health and wellbeing. The key findings from this study were firstly that mothers are given the opportunity to hear and see how the young person is feeling. Secondly, fathers may see how a young person feels; however, it is less likely the young person will speak to dad about low feelings. Thirdly, Teacher may benefit to see how a young person feels, due to school environmental factors, where young people are interacting with friends. Lastly, friends are a safe space for verbal and non-verbal disclosure of low feelings. With future research we will aim to create guidelines for how parents, and teachers may can engage with young people where the this is an opportunity to see or hear about their low feelings.