Examining social determinants of adolescents' happiness & sadness within Maré favela, Rio through photovoice

with Madison Stephens, PhD Candidate

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 12 - 12:50 pm via Zoom

 

This study examines the social determinants of mental health among adolescents living in Brazilian favelas, a population with high rates of mental health challenges. The study uses the Photovoice method to involve adolescents from the Maré favela in expressing their experiences and perceptions of happiness and sadness. Photovoice is a research method developed by Wang & Burris (1997) which is a form of participatory photography in which marginalized populations share their experiences through storytelling.  The study aims to identify critical social and environmental influences on adolescent mental health in this context using this participatory approach.

Preliminary findings reveal significant themes, including the role of leisure and entertainment, the emotional benefits of animals, and the severe mental health impacts of sexual violence:

• Adolescents report that while leisure activities such as reading, music, and sports foster joy and personal growth, barriers such as financial limitations persist.
• Bonds with animals offer comfort amid difficult living conditions.
• The prevalence of sexual abuse, often by family members or peers, emerges as a critical issue with profound mental health consequences.

These insights highlight the complex interplay of factors shaping mental health outcomes and underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the specific needs of adolescents in Brazilian favelas. Further analysis will deepen the understanding of these dynamics and inform the development of culturally sensitive and context-specific mental health interventions.

Madison Stephens, BSc, MSc is currently a PhD candidate at Wolfson Institute of Population Health at Queen Mary University of London receiving supervision under Professors Victoria Bird and Paul Heritage. She received her BSc (Hons) in adult Nursing in 2014 from Plymouth University followed by a MSc in Public Health in 2021 from King's College London University.  She is currently investigating whether the creative data collection method Photovoice is appropriate for exploring mental distress amongst adolescents.