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Understanding Youth’s Lived Experience of Anxiety through Metaphors: A Qualitative, Arts-Based Study

Author

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  • Roberta Lynn Woodgate

    (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba, 89 Curry Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba, MB R3T 2N2, Canada)

  • Pauline Tennent

    (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba, 89 Curry Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba, MB R3T 2N2, Canada)

  • Nicole Legras

    (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba, 89 Curry Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba, MB R3T 2N2, Canada)

Abstract

Living with anxiety can be a complex, biopsychosocial experience that is unique to each person and embedded in their contexts and lived worlds. Scales and questionnaires are necessary to quantify anxiety, yet these approaches are not always able to reflect the lived experience of psychological distress experienced by youth. Guided by hermeneutic phenomenology, our research aimed to amplify the voices of youth living with anxiety. Fifty-eight youth living with anxiety took part in in-depth, open-ended interviews and participatory arts-based methods (photovoice and ecomaps). Analysis was informed by van Manen’s method of data analysis with attention to lived space, lived body, lived time, and lived relationships, as well as the meanings of living with anxiety. Youth relied on the following metaphors to describe their experiences: A shrinking world; The heavy, heavy backpack; Play, pause, rewind, forward; and A fine balance. Overall, youth described their anxiety as a monster, contributing to feelings of fear, loss, and pain, but also hope. The findings from this study can contribute to the reduction of barriers in knowledge translation by encouraging the use of narrative and visual metaphors as a communicative tool to convey youth’s lived experience of anxiety to researchers, clinicians, and the public.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberta Lynn Woodgate & Pauline Tennent & Nicole Legras, 2021. "Understanding Youth’s Lived Experience of Anxiety through Metaphors: A Qualitative, Arts-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4315-:d:539056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lise Katrine Jepsen Trangsrud & Marit Borg & Solfrid Bratland-Sanda & Trude Klevan, 2020. "Embodying Experiences with Nature in Everyday Life Recovery for Persons with Eating Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Chung, B. & Jones, L. & Jones, A. & Corbett, C.E. & Booker, T. & Wells, K.B. & Collins, B., 2009. "Using community arts events to enhance collective efficacy and community engagement to address depression in an African American community," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(2), pages 237-244.
    3. Haroz, E.E. & Ritchey, M. & Bass, J.K. & Kohrt, B.A. & Augustinavicius, J. & Michalopoulos, L. & Burkey, M.D. & Bolton, P., 2017. "How is depression experienced around the world? A systematic review of qualitative literature," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 151-162.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ann Dadich & Katherine M. Boydell & Stephanie Habak & Chloe Watfern, 2021. "Positive Organisational Arts-Based Youth Scholarship: Redressing Discourse on Danger, Disquiet, and Distress during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Yu Deng & Jixue Yang & Li Wang & Yaokai Chen, 2022. "The Road Less Traveled: How COVID-19 Patients Use Metaphors to Frame Their Lived Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Katherine M. Boydell & Michael Hodgins, 2021. "Special Issue on “Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-4, June.

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