Analysis of Self-Care and Stress Management in YouTube Vlogs Targeting Adolescents

Abstract

With the proliferation of new media platforms, YouTube vlogs have increasingly become a vital channel for adolescents to express themselves and gain mental health insights. This study examines 50 adolescent vlogs uploaded between 2022 and 2024, employing content analysis and thematic induction to systematically analyze representations of self-care and stress management. Findings reveal that self-care themes primarily manifest in three dimensions: physical self-care (40%), psychological adjustment (35%), and interest cultivation (25%). Stress management strategies, meanwhile, fall into three categories: study methods (45.5%), emotional regulation (31.5%), and social support (23.0%). At the expressive level, linguistic narratives, visual imagery, and interactive elements collectively form a multimodal narrative framework, enhancing the communicative impact of these themes. This study indicates that YouTube vlogs play a positive role in lowering barriers to mental health topics and facilitating peer experience sharing among adolescents. However, the study has limitations, including the insufficient scientific rigor of the content and an overreliance on online support. The findings contribute to understanding emerging trends in adolescent mental health education within new media contexts and provide reference points for intervention and guidance by families, schools, and platforms.