Constanza Jacques Aviñó, a researcher at the IDIAPJGol’s Cross-Disciplinary Research Unit, led this photovoice-based study exploring adolescents’ emotional health in Catalonia. The outcome of the research is the photo book ¿Qué me hace sentir bien? Salud emocional en las adolescencias de Cataluña: Estudio de fotovoz [‘What Makes Me Feel Good? Emotional Health in Adolescents in Catalonia: A Photovoice Study’], which was presented on June 16, 2025, at the Casa Golferichs Civic Centre in Barcelona.
This project was funded by a FIS grant from the Carlos III Health Institute and by European Union FEDER funds. It gathers the voices and perspectives of 40 adolescents from three secondary schools in Catalonia (Congrés in Nou Barris, Barcelona; Escola Pia de Sant Antoni in Barcelona’s Raval neighborhood; and Els Planells in Artesa de Segre, Lleida) on their emotional well-being.
The photobook is the result of a research process using the photovoice method, in which participants expressed, through photographs and collective dialogue, what contributes to their emotional well-being in daily life. Among the key themes are elements linked to well-being, such as the feeling of peace, the crucial role of hobbies and nature in emotional stability, and emotional bonds (for example, safe spaces or family culture). Negative factors also emerged, including racism, fear of discrimination, and the loss of loved ones.
During the presentation, Dr. Jacques emphasized: “This study aims to give voice to adolescent girls and to make their experiences and emotions visible, often silenced or oversimplified. Listening to them is a powerful tool for rethinking how we support them in educational, social, and health contexts.”
This photo book can serve as a tool for reflection and awareness for health and education professionals, as well as for teenagers and society at large, on the factors that influence emotional health during the key stage of adolescence. In the coming months, a traveling exhibition will take place in various towns and cities across Catalonia to bring the project’s findings closer to the public.
Study reference
Lozano-Sánchez A, Malgosa E, Guzmán-Molina C, Bennett M, Evangelidou S, Codern-Bové N, Jacques-Aviño C. ¿Qué me hace sentir bien? Salud emocional en las adolescencias de Cataluña: Estudio de Fotovoz. Barcelona: Institut de Recerca en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 2025.