Using grounded theory to create a substantive theory of promoting schoolchildren’s mental health
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Using grounded theory to create a substantive theory of promoting schoolchildren’s mental health

Kristiina Puolakka Doctoral student, University of Tampere, Harjavalta, Finland
Kirsi-Maria Haapasalo-Pesu Head, Adolescent psychiatric clinic, Satakunta Hospital District, Pori, Finland
Irma Kiikkala Editor, Docent in Nursing Science, Helsinki, Finland
Päivi Åstedt-Kurki Professor and head, Department of nursing science at the University of Tampere, Finland
Eija Paavilainen Professor, Department of nursing science, University of Tampere, Finland

Aim To discuss the creation of a substantive theory using grounded theory. This article provides an example of generating theory from a study of mental health promotion at a high school in Finland.

Background Grounded theory is a method for creating explanatory theory. It is a valuable tool for health professionals when studying phenomena that affect patients’ health, offering a deeper understanding of nursing methods and knowledge.

Data sources Interviews with school employees, students and parents, and verbal responses to the ‘school wellbeing profile survey’, as well as working group memos related to the development activities. Participating children were aged between 12 and 15.

Review methods The analysis was conducted by applying the grounded theory method and involved open coding of the material, constant comparison, axial coding and selective coding after identifying the core category.

Discussion and conclusions The analysis produced concepts about mental health promotion in school and assumptions about relationships. Grounded theory proved to be an effective means of eliciting people’s viewpoints on mental health promotion. The personal views of different parties make it easier to identify an action applicable to practice.

Nurse Researcher. 20, 3, 22-27. doi: 10.7748/nr2013.01.20.3.22.c9493

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

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