Barns perspektiv i forskning om barns psykiska hälsa – förhållningssätt och utmaningar

Abstract

This article discusses children’s perspective in research on mental health and illness in child-hood as a challenging approach. The starting point is the issue of how a child perspective in research is different from child perspective as defined in political contexts. In light of current critical discussions among researchers in childhood studies a significant difference is that researchers present theoretical and methodological starting points when results based on children’s perspectives are discussed. A particular challenge arises as more and more researchers from research fields outside childhood research
begin to assume a child’s perspective. Another challenge is linked to the particular issue of mental health and illness. Drawing on Ian Hacking’s concepts of ”the looping effects” (Hacking 1995, 1999) one promising approach in studying mental health and illness in childhood from a child perspective is outlined.