Table 4 Exemplars reflecting key themes extracted in qualitative analysis
Theme | Exemplars |
|---|---|
Enjoy the questionnaire | |
Understanding and reflection | It allowed me to reflect on my positive thoughts and how I view myself as an individual Knowing I haven’t tried any illegal substances or at least reading I haven’t made me feel good On the last page my head started running over all the pleasant memories I was writing about It gave me a better understanding of myself It helped me to understand more about the mental health problems of young people and helped me understand more about me |
Help is available/helping others | I hope that what I have answered can contribute even just a little to the research I know it will help research into emotional problems with teenagers providing solutions to overcome their issues Made me feel that there is help out there, we just need to talk about it I did enjoy this because it makes me know that someone is trying to help |
Fun and enjoyable | It was interesting and I enjoy filling out questionnaires Because I like being asked questions about me Yes, it was enjoyable. More fun than what I thought It was a change and I enjoyed it |
Expressing themselves | Because I can release my feelings, emotions and thoughts and know they will stay anonymous I can tell the truth and not get into trouble I knew I could be completely honest and it felt good to express some things that I had not in any other way |
Getting out of class | I got out of geography class and got a show bag It meant we don’t have to do work Because I won’t have to do schoolwork and listen to the teacher… |
Not enjoy the questionnaire | |
Boredom/inconvenience | I didn’t have a problem with my life so it wasn’t really effective for me Didn’t really relate to any of my problems I sometimes found it hard to understand what the question was asking for example, I have never thought about committing suicide so I found it strange answering questions about that topic Cause it was boring… It took ages. I was meant to be in the library doing assignments and studying Missed studying for science test coming up |
Negative experience | Shows the bad side of me It made me think about my problems too much I did not realise other people had some of the worries mentioned It made me sad for others |
Worried or upset | |
Personal experience/feelings | It was just upset remembering things that have happened I realised that maybe I do need help I feel like there might be something wrong with me Recently someone in my community committed suicide so the questions relating to that were upsetting The self-harm/suicide part and the bullying part and the sexuality part |
Relationships with others | Brought back memories of awkwardness with my ex-girlfriend I don’t have a relationship with my dad, which makes me sad I didn’t like the questions about family because my relationship with my family is great When I shared thoughts about my friends, I wished hard that I had better friends …it’s hard because I have a really close friend who does it [self-injures] and I can’t stop him |
Awareness of others’ issues | Some people my age actually have these problems That there are a lot of mental problems out there The thought that young people take their lives The drinking and drugs, it just worried me that people do that to themselves |
Confidentiality | I was worried this questionnaire wouldn’t be confidential … I might be identified by my answers … you might contact the school about me I… am worried about my parents finding out |