Citation

Hendry LB, Reid M. J. Adolesc. 2000; 23(6): 705-719.

Affiliation

Centre for Educational Research, Department of Sociology, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1006/jado.2000.0354

PMID

11161334

Abstract

Adolescence has been posited as an important period for the onset of mental health problems and for the need to adapt successfully to many psychosocial changes. The assumption has been made that social belonging is both a health-related goal and an antidote for other sorts of emotional crises, but there is little research on how normal adolescents themselves view connections between social relationships and their physical and mental health. This qualitative study examines how social connectedness represents both a content and process variable in northern Scottish young people's discussion of their health concerns, that is, it was both a source of distress and implicated as a helpful or harmful factor in relation to other health concerns. Analyses revealed both the potency of all of these concerns and participants' belief that skills acquired now could affect their future life goals and health. Suggestions are given for building new approaches for conceptualizing rural young people's health problems and helping them cope with the social contexts involved within and around them.

Language: en