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Self-Care Practices and Socio-Emotional Skills in Adolescents: A Participatory Approach to Mental Health Promotion
Objective. To analyze the theoretical, documentary, and contextual foundations guiding a qualitative study on the relationship between mental health self-care practices, socio-emotional skills, and youth participation among adolescents aged 14 to 18 attending public educational institutions in Neiva, Colombia. Method. The study is framed within a qualitative and Participatory Action Research approach. During this initial phase, a documentary review and analysis were conducted to develop the theoretical and contextual framework. Subsequent stages are expected to involve approximately 25 to 30 adolescents selected through purposive criterion-based sampling, with semi-structured interviews as the main information-gathering technique. Results. The preliminary analysis identified four key dimensions: a relational and contextual understanding of adolescent mental health; self-care as a practice shaped by personal, family, school, and social conditions; the protective potential of socio-emotional skills in situations affecting well-being; and the importance of meaningful youth participation in the development of intervention strategies. These findings derive exclusively from the documentary phase and do not represent results from fieldwork. Conclusion. The findings provide an initial conceptual and methodological basis for the subsequent development of a participatory strategy aimed at strengthening adolescents’ emotional well-being and self-care capacities. Its relevance and scope will need to be assessed during later phases through direct work with participants.
