Probing the Melatonin Controversy: Exploring Adolescent Perspectives Through Play

Sleep difficulties among children and adolescents in Denmark pose significant public health concerns due to their impact on daily life. From 2011 to 2020, the prescription of melatonin for individuals aged 0–17 more than doubled, with peak usage between ages 10 and 15. Despite this trend, children and adolescents’ perspectives on sleep in general and melatonin use in particular remain underexplored. This study seeks to amplify their voices by investigating their lived experiences and viewpoints.

Adopting a qualitative research design, this study employs participatory methods centered on ‘cultural probes’ inviting participants to engage creatively in content-related activities at home. Acknowledging the importance adolescents ascribe to peers, the study extends the method to ‘play probes’ for young people, incorporating fictional and mirroring narratives to create poetic and imaginative spaces for reflection.

The presentation reports on findings from a pilot study conducted with ten adolescent melatonin users in 2024–2025. It reflects on the methodological framework, exploring how play aesthetics—anchored in ‘unconventionality,’ ‘serendipity,’ and ‘reflectivity’—can enhance engagement. Initial findings reveal adolescents’ everyday experiences and perspectives on melatonin use, contributing to the broader discourse on participatory design and the role of play in addressing sensitive health topics.