Abstract
Background To explore children’s conceptualizations and perceptions of health and more specifically mental health.
Methods: Open semi-structured group discussions with 44 Swedish children and adolescents (10–14 years old) recruited from four schools were conducted. The interviews were conducted between April 2022 and January 2023. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Results: Children’s and adolescents' conceptualizing of health included aspects of both the body and the mind, with a focus on the latter. Mental health was expressed as a state of being, illustrated by various lived experiences of emotions, moods, and thoughts. The social world was ever present in their understanding of health, e.g., through the lenses of social and gender norms.
Conclusions: This study reveals young children’s recognition of health terms, showing their ability to observe nuances between mental health problems and everyday struggles. The children discussed mental health problems to a greater extent than mental health promotion. An implication of the study is the highlighted need to focus more on mental health promotion in future preventive programs. These findings might also potentially influence how school staff and student health team communicate with secondary children and adolescents about these concepts.