Thursday Nov 13th at 3–5pm
Chair: Jessica Hemberg, Åbo Akademi University
(On-site session)
Young people’s mental health issues continue to increase in Finland and health-promoting support is needed to alleviate these. This workshop presents results from young people’s experiences of bullying, cyberbullying and loneliness, as well as professional youth workers’ views on young people’s school transitions in relation to loneliness, and what can be done to address this issue. This workshop also examines the views of school coaches working in Finnish schools on what kind of health-promoting support they can offer young people. All presentations aim to demonstrate research results on young people’s experiences of mental health, the kind of needed support and how it can be provided according to both young people and professional youth workers.
Bullying among young people and health-promoting factors: Young people’s perspectives
Miia Hästbacka, Åbo Akademi University
Yulia Korzhina, Åbo Akademi University
Pia Nyman-Kurkiala, Åbo Akademi University
Kia Ikonen, Åbo Akademi University
Jessica Hemberg, Åbo Akademi University
Several factors influence young people’s mental health, and exposure to bullying is a risk factor. Bullying and cyberbullying are strongly associated with loneliness; however, little research has been carried out on this topic. This study aimed to explore the causes of bullying among young people, and the protective mechanisms and preventive work that can promote well-being, as seen from young people’s perspectives. A qualitative exploratory design and content analysis were conducted. The interviews were done with 35 young people (aged 17–28 years). Three main categories were identified: (1) Causes of bullying, intervention, and mitigation; (2) Protection against the harmful effects of bullying and loneliness; and (3) Prevention and promotion of well-being as solutions. Nine subcategories were identified in this study. Further research could explore interventions to prevent bullying in school settings, focusing on how bullying prevention programs are implemented, and how school staff and guardians perceive and work with bullying issues.
The perspectives of adolescents, emerging adults, and parents on involuntary loneliness among adolescents and emerging adults
Yulia Korzhina, Åbo Akademi University
Miia Hästbacka, Åbo Akademi University
Kia Ikonen, Åbo Akademi University
Pia Nyman-Kurkiala, Åbo Akademi University
Jessica Hemberg, Åbo Akademi University
Increasing evidence shows that young people are particularly predisposed to experiencing loneliness. More qualitative investigations are needed to provide a clearer understanding of what leads adolescents and emerging adults to perceive themselves as involuntarily lonely. The aim was to develop a nuanced understanding of what can cause and what might mitigate experiences of involuntary loneliness among adolescents and emerging adults as seen from adolescents’, emerging adults’, and parents’ perspectives. A qualitative approach and reflexive thematic analysis were used. A total of eleven participants (8 adolescents/emerging adults, 3 parents) participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Six main themes and fourteen subthemes emerged. The main themes were: Involuntary loneliness has a negative impact on adolescents’ and emerging adults’ well-being, Challenges within contemporary youth culture that cause loneliness, Life circumstances that hinder connections and cause involuntary loneliness, Intervention systems that counteract involuntary loneliness, Supportive systems that mitigates involuntary loneliness, and System changes in policy and advocacy to offset loneliness. Involuntary loneliness among young people is a complex problem requiring a variety of different approaches. Young people need support in finding and building deeper friendships that can facilitate a profound connection and countervail and alleviate involuntary loneliness, thus strengthening their well-being. The mechanisms underlying the link between social media use and involuntary loneliness should be further investigated. The stigma surrounding seeking help that young people might experience should be prevented by increasing information about loneliness as a common problem and introducing individualistic approaches within healthcare that can help alleviate loneliness among young people.
Young peoples’ experiences of loneliness and mental health issues in relation to friends and school
Jessica Hemberg, Åbo Akademi University
Yulia Korzhina, Åbo Akademi University
Kia Ikonen, Åbo Akademi University
Pia Nyman-Kurkiala, Åbo Akademi University
Miia Hästbacka, Åbo Akademi University
Loneliness and mental ill-health are a serious threat to the well-being of young people. It is important to listen to their own voices about how they experience loneliness and mental ill-health, but few studies focus on loneliness related to young people’s friends and school. The aim of the study was to examine young people’s and young adults’ experiences of loneliness and mental ill-health in relation to friends and school and strategies for alleviating loneliness. A qualitative study with an inductive approach was used as a design. Ten young people aged 19-27 were interviewed. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The results show that young people’s experiences of loneliness may be related to their upbringing and personality traits and may originate in not fitting in, lack of friends, suffering from mental illness, and experiencing exclusion and bullying. Young people have different strategies for alleviating experiences of loneliness; nature can provide alleviation or they may seek different forms of entertainment as a strategy to relieve their suffering, such as gaming, watching movies or doing exercise. Negative coping strategies include eating disorders, addictions, self-harm, social isolation and an unhealthy lifestyle. One strategy to alleviate the experience of loneliness is to engage with other people in the community. Moreover, young people would like to see early interventions if student loneliness is discovered at school. They would also like to see places for various inexpensive activities and support groups for young people who feel lonely.
Class teachers’ perceptions of their responsibility for pupil mental health and well-being in schools
Jessica Hemberg, Åbo Akademi University
Miia Hästbacka, Åbo Akademi University
Yulia Korzhina, Åbo Akademi University
Mental health problems are a phenomenon that has become increasingly common in the everyday lives of children and young people. Only limited research exists on how class teachers perceive their responsibility for student well-being and mental health at a time when schools are facing increased expectations and demands. The study aim was to examine class teachers’ experiences of their responsibility for student well-being and mental health, and accessible and wished-for support. Interviews were conducted with six class teachers in Finland, and the data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis. Four main categories and 18 subcategories were found. The main categories were: Class teachers’ experiences of their responsibility, Warning signs of mental illness in students, Impact of the workload, Class teachers’ perceptions on work structure. Further research could focus on creating and evaluating specific indicators and routines to facilitate class teachers’ early identification of mental illness among pupils.