The powerful combination of group interviews and drawings: how to give children a voice in the understanding of well-being

Abstract

The study of subjective well-being is of great importance as it has been related with positive development throughout the whole life course. The traditional focus given to parents or experts reporting on behalf of children has given way to the emergence of an increasing number of approaches giving children a voice in the understanding of their own well-being. The purpose of the study presented in this chapter was to identify key concepts regarding well-being as experienced by children in their everyday contexts, and their own understanding of these concepts, through the use of two different qualitative methods – group interviews and drawings. Results from four group interviews (with 19 children with a mean age of 10) and from their drawings showed that children perceived well-being as a multidimensional concept. Children’s rights and school domains were central to the concept. Family and time use emerged both through group interviews and drawings. Implications of this study include the recommendation for more generalized use of complementary methods to properly capture children’s point of view on socially significant topics, such as well-being.