Social relationships among adolescents as described in an electronic diary: a mixed methods study

Abstract

Social relationships among adolescents with mental disorders are demanding. Adolescents with depressive symptoms may have few relationships and have difficulties sharing their problems. Internet may offer reliable and easy to use tool to collect real-time information from adolescents. The aim of this study is to explore how adolescents describe their social relationships with an electronic diary. Mixed methods were used to obtain a broad picture of adolescents’ social relationships with the data gathered from network maps and reflective texts written in an electronic diary. Adolescents who visited an outpatient clinic and used an intervention (N=70) designed for adolescents with signs of depression were invited to use the electronic diary; 29 did so. The quantitative data gathered in the electronic diary were summarized with descriptive statistics, and the qualitative data were categorized using a thematic analysis with an inductive approach. We found that social relationships among adolescents with signs of depression can vary greatly in regards to the number of existing relationships (from lacking to 21) and the quality of the relationships (from trustful to difficult). However, the relationships may change, and the adolescents are also willing to build up their social relationships. Professionals need to be aware of the diversity of adolescents’ social relationships and their need for personalized support.

Impact of a Web Program to Support the Mental Wellbeing of High School Students: A Quasi Experimental Feasibility Study

“…The result is of interest since Goldbaum et al [63] reported that students seek support and protection and discuss everyday events, personal concerns and problems with their peers. Adolescents are also willing to build up their social relationships [64]. However, we can ask whether a forum for openly discussing and sharing inner thoughts with peers is too intimate of a way to seek help for daily issues.…”

Impact and Feasibility of Information Technology to Support Adolescent Well-Being and Mental Health at School: A Quasi-Experimental Study

“…The studied intervention is based on the previously developed 26 and studied DepisNet program for adolescents. [39][40][41][42][43] It was developed by searching the relevant literature on the topic, identifying the most useful theories guiding intervention development, conducting interviews with professionals to gain a better perspective on the world of adolescents and their needs and solutions to their problems, and cooperating with nursing staff to ensure that the intervention would be adopted as part of the existing treatment environment and procedures. 26 It consists of health information, caters flexibly for the problems that adolescents commonly face in their daily lives, and a variety of selfreflective exercises.…”

Displayed Depression Symptoms on Facebook at Two Time Points: Content Analysis

“…The emergence of depression is a major health concern during adolescence; the prevalence of depression increases between the ages of 10 and 18 years [1][2][3]. The most common form of depression in adolescents and young adults is major depressive disorder, with a yearly incidence of approximately 8% [8,9].…”

“…Adolescence is often the time when depression symptoms arise; thus, adolescents may be faced with these symptoms during a developmental stage in which their abstract thinking and ability to conceptualize the future is still developing [1][2][3]. As a result, adolescents may post their experiences on social media as an outlet for expression or to seek peer support.…”

“…Depression often has an onset during adolescence and young adulthood [1][2][3]. Social networking sites (SNSs) may present new opportunities to understand emerging adults' experiences of depression, as over 90% of youth and 75% of adults use one or more SNS [4,5].…”