Symbolic Interactionism and Grounded Theory in research on the health of children and adolescents: a scoping review

Abstract

Objective:  to map the theoretical-methodological application of Symbolic Interactionism and Grounded Theory in research on the health of children and adolescents. Method:  a scoping review conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the JBI. The following elements were considered: Participants - children and/or adolescents, family members, and professionals; Concepts - Symbolic Interactionism and Grounded Theory; Context - not delimited. Nine electronic sources were consulted, including original articles, without language or time restrictions. Rayyan and NVivo software were used for study selection and data synthesis. Results:  fifty-nine studies were included. Most participants were adolescents (49%) and family members (40%). Regarding the theoretical perspective, 42% adopted Blumer’s framework and 67% Strauss’s methodology. The combination of data collection strategies was reported in 34% of the studies; analytical resources such as diagrams and memos were cited in 42% and 39% of the studies, respectively. Only 24% reported theory validation. The hospital setting was the most frequently investigated context (27%). Conclusion:  the combination of data collection strategies enables greater analytical diversity and investigations across different sociocultural and intersectoral contexts, contributing to the development of substantive theories. Future studies including the simultaneous participation of children, adolescents, family members, and professionals are recommended.