Advanced search
Publication Cover
Journal of Health Communication
International Perspectives
Volume 29, 2024 - Issue 3
Submit an article Journal homepage
335
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Understanding How Youth Search for Mental Health Information Online: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Megan Pohl1 Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence (ARCHE), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;2 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaView further author information
,
Sarah A Elliott1 Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence (ARCHE), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;2 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;3 Cochrane Child Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaView further author information
,
Harsimronjoot SidhuView further author information
,
Sarah LappinView further author information
,
Ricky LiuView further author information
,
Shannon D Scott4 Evidence in Child Health to Enhance Outcomes (ECHO), Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;5 Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaView further author information
,
Amanda Newton2 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;5 Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaView further author information
&
Lisa Hartling1 Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence (ARCHE), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;2 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;3 Cochrane Child Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;5 Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaCorrespondence[email protected]
View further author information
 show all
Pages 211-219 | Published online: 14 Feb 2024
 
Sample our Humanities journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand how youth search for mental health information online. Youth partners were engaged at the onset of the project and provided input throughout on the design, conduct and analysis. Individual, semi-structured interviews with Canadian youth with experience searching for mental health information online were conducted. Data collection and reflexive thematic analysis proceeded concurrently. Fourteen youth were interviewed. Four main themes related to how youth search online emerged: mind-set shapes the search process; external factors shape the search process; key attributes of helpful information; and cues affecting trustworthiness of online information. Findings can inform the development of youth-friendly online mental health information that is perceived as helpful and trustworthy by youth. Ensuring youth have access to quality online mental health information, accessible to how they search for it, is critical to the mental health and development of youth.

Acknowledgments

MP was supported by a graduate studentship from the Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit and the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute through a CIHR Foundation Grant (FDN-148411) held by Dr. Shannon Scott and Dr. Lisa Hartling. The funding agency played no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report. Dr. Hartling is supported by a Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Synthesis and Translation. Dr. Scott is supported by a Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Translation in Child Health. Dr. Hartling and Dr. Scott are Distinguished Researchers with the Stollery Science Lab supported by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2024.2313990

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Log in via your institution

Access through your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

Restore content access

Restore content access for purchases made as guest
Purchase options * Save for later

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 215.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.