Due to masculinity norms such as self-reliance and resilience, many teenage boys are reluctant to discuss potential mental health issues or anxiety. This may explain why boys prefer seeking help on social media rather than in healthcare when they are struggling mentally. In the project, we aim to investigate what influencers post about mental health and how the posts are interpreted by the boys.
Focus mostly on teenage girls
Research has often neglected the mental health of teenage boys, as studies have primarily focused on teenage girls who report more health problems and seek care to a greater extent than boys. When it comes to the impact of social media on young people's well-being, research has predominantly focused on girls, as they are perceived to be more susceptible due to their greater use of social media. However, today a larger proportion of boys (82%) than girls (68%) aged 13–16 report following a channel or an influencer. The research project aims to understand how influencers followed by teenage boys represent mental health and how teenage boys interpret and relate to the content.
Ethnography for the Internet
The project is inspired by the methodology Ethnography for the Internet, which emphasises the value of combining online studies with face-to-face studies with those who consume the content, such as influencers' posts. Thus, the project combines two studies:
- Collection and analysis of content regarding mental health in videos published by influencers identified for us by teenage boys.
- An interview study with the same teenage boys using video elicitation techniques.
In the long run, knowledge of these aspects can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between gender norms and mental health, as well as how gender norms affect young people's health. This knowledge is important in the discussion and addressing of masculinity norms and for professionals designing support for young people suffering from mental health issues.
The aim of the study is also to further develop theories on masculinity and vulnerability.
The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council (2024-01261) and is carried out in collaboration with the School Health Services in Linköping Municipality.
