Exploring similarities and differences in how researchers and young people understand key terms in youth mental-health research
A lack of a shared understanding of key terms is acknowledged as a significant barrier to interdisciplinary research. This paper examines the ways in which a broadly interdisciplinary team of academics and youth co-researchers involved in mental health research interpreted a number of research and mental health terms that are central to their work in order to understand conceptual differences in how different stakeholder groups approach these terms. Data was collected in four phases (interviews, written responses, and two participatory 'living labs') and was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results revealed a wide disparity in the way participants understood key terms (including: 'research', 'data', 'loneliness', 'safe space' and 'resilience'). Our study highlights the need for more inclusive approaches to mental health research, where diverse perspectives and lived experiences inform both methodology and practice from the outset. In conclusion we suggest a new framework (the EQUITY framework) as a tool to operationalise these findings.
Authors
- Paul Cooke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8377-3118)
- Anna Mankee‐Williams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0829-8441)
- Ruth Herbert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7878-9991)
- Emma Williams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9820-4885)
- Kamaldeep Bhui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9205-2144)
- Raginie Duara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3004-9185)
- Siobhan Hugh‐Jones (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5307-1203)
- Nicola Shaughnessy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9555-9987)
- Georgia Pavlopoulou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0205-8332)
- Edmund Sonuga‐Barke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6996-3935)
- Sylvan Baker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3857-2242)
Institutions
- University of Leeds (GB)
- St George's, University of London (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- Falmouth University (GB)
- University of Kent (GB)
- Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (GB)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- City St George's, University of London (GB)
- University College London (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
- Published
- 2025-09-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05809-5
- Primary Topic
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium
- Arts and Humanities Research Council
- Medical Research Council