Youth participatory action research using photovoice documented three themes relevant to body-image and mental health in young people: navigating Eurocentric body norms, strengths and challenges of youth development, and well-being in emerging adulthood.
Three primary themes emerged from youth-led photovoice data analysis related to body image and mental health.
Participant photos and journals reflected internalized expectations about bodies tied to Eurocentric norms.
Youth emphasized the importance of connection, community, and creative expression for well-being.
A national online youth participatory action research (YPAR) study using photovoice was conducted with 18 youth across three U.S. regions.
Findings highlight the importance of youth-led storytelling in research and arts-based practice.
This research suggests that when young people are given the opportunity to document and analyze their own experiences using photography and journaling, they surface important insights about how cultural beauty standards, community belonging, and creative expression shape their mental health and body image. The study engaged 18 young people between the ages of 14 and 22 from three different regions across the United States in online 'photovoice' sessions — a method where participants take photos and write narratives to represent their lived experiences. Three key themes emerged from the young people's own analysis of their materials: the pressure of Eurocentric body norms, the mixed challenges and strengths of growing up, and what well-being means as they transition into adulthood. A notable finding is that participants' photos and journals showed they had internalized societal expectations about how bodies 'should' look, particularly those rooted in Eurocentric standards. At the same time, youth identified connection with others, a sense of community, and creative expression as important sources of strength and well-being. This research suggests that allowing young people to tell their own stories through arts-based methods can reveal aspects of their development and mental health that more traditional research approaches might miss. The study contributes to a growing body of work supporting youth-led and participatory research approaches. This research suggests that giving young people agency in research — letting them choose topics, take photos, write reflections, and analyze findings collaboratively — is a valuable method for understanding adolescent and young adult experiences around body image and mental health, and may also be beneficial as a practice in community and clinical settings.
LeFrancois J, Lilliane Macias R, Nava N, Garcia J. (2026). Embodied Youth Narratives: Results of a National Photovoice Project.. Journal of community psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.70145