What makes the everyday life of Swedish adolescent girls less stressful: a qualitative analysis.

Stress is a widespread phenomenon in society today, not least among children and adolescents. Stress-related ill-health has increased in this population and affects girls to a greater extent than boys. Against this background, it is important to acquire knowledge about measures that prevent stress, especially in girls. The aim of this study was therefore to illuminate adolescent girls' experiences and reflections about what makes everyday life less stressful. An explorative design, qualitative content analysis, was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen 17-year-old girls. The analysis comprised both manifest and latent content and revealed the girls' own experiences of and reflections about what makes everyday life less stressful. Three categories, 'Enjoyment and Recovery', 'Trust' and 'Insight and Influence', and nine subcategories emerged. The latent content of these categories is described by the theme 'access to sources of strength'. It is essential that persons in the girls' surroundings are aware of all sources that provide the strength to resist and prevent stress in everyday life. A climate has to be created in all arenas of the girls' everyday life in which they can access these sources of strength. Utilizing the girls' experiences and views about what needs to be done is the first step towards a preventive and promotive mode of working on their own circumstances and wishes. This approach is consistent with the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, which emphasizes the importance of involving the target group.