Perceptions of Covid-19 Messages, Behavior, and Mental Health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions of Adolescent Mental Health Service Users Regarding the Impact of Covid-19 Messages on Their Behaviour Change and Mental Health.
IRAS ID
298035
Contact name
Nada Okasha
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Luton CAMHS
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 13 days
Research summary
Covid-19 has impacted individuals and communities in a variety of ways and degrees. Individuals with mental health issues from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities have been identified as one of the most vulnerable to the negative effects of Covid-19 (Singh et al., 2020; Fetzer et al., 2020). In the interest of public health, it is important to safeguard such vulnerable individuals, by encouraging behaviour change without exacerbating existing mental health issues (Rains et al., 2021; Holmes et al., 2020). Health messaging has been used to communicate behaviour change information to prevent the spread of Covid-19, by providing information in ways that increase understanding and action (Bavel et al., 2020). There is a prioritised call for research (from The Lancet) on Covid-19 messaging to increase protective behaviour change and reduce unintended mental health issues (Smith et al., 2020; O’Connor et al., 2020). There is a particular emphasis on researching this in the context of vulnerable demographics, which evidence suggests includes young people with pre-existing mental health conditions who live in a socioeconomically disadvantaged community (Rose et al., 2020; Moreno et al., 2020). This study aims to investigate the perceptions of adolescent mental health service users regarding the impact of Covid-19 messages on their behaviour change and mental health. Since this study will explore perceptions, a qualitative design is best suited for the production of detailed, meaningful data. I will be taking a critical realist position while conducting this study; participants’ words will provide access to their particular versions of reality, however my analysis will interpret this reality and its mediation by socio-cultural meanings, language, and other interpretative resources (Jonathan, 2015). The transcribed interviews will be analysed by inductive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; 2013), which will be mainly grounded in the data, and shaped by my interpretation as a researcher. (Jonathan, 2015).
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
21/WA/0112
Date of REC Opinion
26 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion