An Exploration of Perceived Cause of Emotional Distress and Implications for Help-seeking During Adolescence

Abstract

This thesis makes a critical contribution to research and practice relating to adolescent help-seeking and perceived cause for emotional distress. Specifically, it provides novel insight into causal perceptions for emotional distress among adolescents considered to be at-risk of developing mental health difficulties, and the ways in which these perceptions play a role in their help-seeking. Three unique studies were developed to address gaps identified in the literature. Study One is a systematic review exploring what adolescents at increased risk of developing mental health difficulties and those with clinically significant symptoms perceive to be the cause of emotional distress; the extent to which perceived cause influences help- seeking; and the potential differences and commonalities between these groups. Six main themes related to perceived cause (e.g., problematic family dynamics), and four main themes related to causal attributions and help-seeking (e.g., the degree of personal and wider knowledge and understanding of cause) were reported. Study Two used ideal-type analysis to develop a typology from qualitative interview data of perceived cause of emotional distress among adolescents considered to be at-risk of developing mental health difficulties. Five distinct categories of perceived cause (e.g., perceived lack of control) were identified. The identification of distinct categories emphasises the need to explore cause from the perspectives of adolescents to develop more effective support for emotional distress. Finally, using the same participants as Study Two, Study Three presents a typology of at-risk adolescents’ approaches to help-seeking behaviour, whilst also outlining observed patterns between perceived cause for emotional distress (established in Study Two) and help- seeking. Active (e.g., motivated and solution focused) and passive (e.g., guided by others who have taken notice) approaches to help-seeking were identified in this typology. Finding distinct overarching approaches to help-seeking helps us to understand the complex ways in which adolescents might approach support, and emphasises the need to create space for different types of help-seekers. Overall, this thesis highlights that perceived cause and help-seeking are linked, potentially through the role of others and the quality of the infrastructure that they provide for support. Therefore, it emphasises the need to consider perceived cause for emotional distress in the context of help-seeking to improve intervention and prevention efforts for adolescents.

Date of Award	31 Dec 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Neil Humphrey (Supervisor)