Abstract

CARCELLER-MAICAS, Natàlia. Vital worlds of words: an analysis of adolescent through emotional distress narratives. Rev.latinoam.cienc.soc.niñez juv [online]. 2018, vol.16, n.1, pp.269-283. ISSN 1692-715X.  https://doi.org/10.11600/1692715x.16116.

Avoiding mental health services indicate that adolescents prefer to engage in self-care to treat their emotional distress. In order to clarify the reasons for this preference the author analyzes the lay nosology that adolescents use to name their emotional distress using a hermeneutic and interpretative approach. The study uses a qualitative methodology through 105 semi-structured interviews with a sample of adolescents and young people from Catalonia (Spain). Results show the existence of a lay nosology continuum, articulating the gradient of emotional distress that forms their vital worlds; temporality, normalization and severity are key concepts that shape this suffering. Differences between subgroups and genders were observed. Recognition of these lay nosologies allows better access to the ways in which emotional distress is perceived, felt and lived. This could lead to improvements in the communication between adolescents and professionals.

Keywords : Adolescents; young people; narration; expressed emotion; qualitative analysis; mental health; emotional distress; Catalonia (Social Sciences UnescoThesaurus y Thesaurus Health Sciences Descriptors).

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