Youth Behavior Research Articles

Characteristics and correlates of aggressive behavior in autistic youths.

This study aimed to characterize aggressive behaviors in autistic youths and to identify the social environment variables most strongly linked with aggression in this clinical population. Participants were 2142 caregivers of autistic youths (ages 6.0-17.9) recruited from autism research centers across the United States. Caregivers completed self-report and behavior rating inventories that assessed both verbal and physical aggression as well as characteristics of the individual youths (sleep quality, gastrointestinal [GI] symptoms, and autism characteristics) and their families (caregiver stress, global family functioning, and sibling relations), peers (emotional bonding, number of friends), schools (academic functioning), and neighborhoods (perceived community safety). We used descriptive analyses to identify which aggressive acts were most common among autistic youths, and we performed bivariate correlations and multiple linear regression analyses to determine which characteristics of the youths and their social environments were most strongly linked with youth aggression. Verbally aggressive youth behaviors were endorsed by caregivers most frequently. Youth age and sex were not associated with verbal or physical aggression. A combination of youth and social environment characteristics accounted for 42.6% of the variance in verbal aggression and 26.0% of the variance in physical aggression. Thus, those characteristics most strongly linked with verbal and physical aggression were strained sibling relations, caregiver stress, youth sleep problems, and youth repetitive and restrictive behaviors. Viewed together, the results suggest that aggressive behaviors in autistic youths are associated with multiple characteristics pertaining to the individual youths and their immediate social environments. Implications for treatment and research are discussed.

Agri management behaviour of rural youth towards agribusiness

Agri management behaviour of rural youth towards agribusiness

A STUDY ON SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT BEHAVIOUR OF YOUTHS OF NAGAON TOWN, ASSAM, INDIA

A STUDY ON SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT BEHAVIOUR OF YOUTHS OF NAGAON TOWN, ASSAM, INDIA

Impact of a Youth Sun Safety Educational Program.

Sun protection early in life is necessary to prevent skin cancer. Therefore, youth sun safety education is imperative. However, such programs have often failed to bring about behavioral change in youths. We evaluate a sun safety educational program's effectiveness in improving elementary school students' knowledge of sun safety, confidence in their ability to explain the importance of sun protection, and their understanding of sunscreen labels. A 1.5-hour program was conducted for the fourth-grade students. Forty-five of the 53 students participated in the study and completed the pre- and post-surveys, a response rate of 84%. These surveys were identical, consisting of four questions rated on a Likert scale to assess changes in the students' knowledge, confidence, and understanding regarding sun protection. The students overall had a statistically significant increase in their knowledge of sun safety and sun protective measures, confidence in their ability to explain the importance of sun protection, and their understanding of sunscreen labels. In alignment with the current literature, this study demonstrates the importance of school-based sun safety programs and notably shows that such programs can increase youths' understanding of sunscreen labels and confidence in explaining the importance of sun protection. It is our hope that the program will cause increased practice of sun protective behaviors among the students. Further research is needed to determine how effective such programs are in increasing the practice of sun protective behaviors in youths.

Coronavirus Grants and their Effects on Youth Behaviour: The Case of Dzimauli Village in the Vhembe Region, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Coronavirus Grants and their Effects on Youth Behaviour: The Case of Dzimauli Village in the Vhembe Region, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Intent mining framework for understanding online conversations on vaping to inform social media-based intervention design

ABSTRACT The recent surge in the usage of e-cigarettes amongst youth has highlighted a long-standing societal crisis. To assist public health agencies in policymaking, past research often employed traditional survey-based methods to understand youth behavior, which suffer from response biases and scalability, are time-consuming, and their findings often lag the fast-changing public behavior. Our study fills this gap by using social media as a complementary data source to understand user intentions for vape usage at a large scale, thus, providing an alternative to traditional survey-based methods. In this paper, we propose a novel user intent mining framework under the guidance of social cognitive theory for health behavioral interventions that helps study user intentions across different social media platforms. We then employ this framework to investigate the feasibility of automated intent mining on social media by formulating a multi-class classification task, employing machine learning algorithms to classify a social media message across relevant intent classes: Accusational, Anecdotal, Informational, Justificational and Promotional. The analyses indicate that Accusational tweets and Anecdotal messages were most prevalent on X/Twitter and Reddit respectively. We further provide novel insights on the conversational context using topic modeling analysis and psychometric analysis consequently, informing intervention designs and assisting health analysts.

Empowering Adolescents: Exploring the Relationship between Self-Esteem and Test Anxiety

Background: Test anxiety is a major cause of student non-performance, despite adequate preparation. This paper is part of a multi-centric youth behavior study project done in 2022 by the Association of Adolescent and Child Care in India (AACCI). Aims: to study self-esteem and test anxiety in school children. Methods: The tools used were RSES- Rosenburg Self-esteem Score (scores >25 are considered high self-esteem and FTAS- Freidben Test Anxiety Scale (scores > 7 are considered significant). Sample: 242 students (10-18 years) studying in a coaching class in Aurangabad (males 53.31%, females 46.69%). Validity & reliability: The RSES - Guttman scale coefficient of reproducibility is 0.92, indicating excellent internal consistency. Test-retest reliability over 2 weeks reveals correlations of 0.85 and 0.88. FTAS- the internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) of the total and the three sub-scales of the FTA (range: .81-.91validity, 0.82 (girls) and 0.84 (boys). It has also been shown to be significantly correlated with peer evaluations of the degree to which test-related stress is experienced (Total: 0.54; Fear of Social Derogation: 0.52; Cognitive Obstruction: 0.64; and Tenseness: 0.78. Ethical issues: This project has been cleared by the AACCI IEC. Parental permission and assent of students were taken. Statistical analysis was done using t-test/ANOVA by GNU PSPP. Results: Analysis of our data showed that this sample had significant mean test anxiety scores: total FTAS (9.19±5.37). SD-Social Derogation (3.84±2.61), CO-Cognitive Obstruction (2.46±2.17), and T-Tenseness (2.88±1.95). Females showed higher scores - total FTAS (10.23±5.10) and SD (4.40±2.54). A strong correlation was found between FTAS score and SD factor across all ages with the strongest positive correlation coefficient for early adolescent female students r (24) =.92, p<.001. Conclusion: Females had higher test anxiety scores, and lower self-esteem scores and will need specific intervention. Being judged by marks affects the self-esteem of adolescents. SD factor was significant across ages in this sample. AACCI conducts awareness programs for parents and teachers to reduce social pressure on children given high SD scores. We also conduct intervention programs for improving CO scores by instilling good study skills and habits and relaxation and stress relief methods to reduce T scores in the context of test anxiety.

Adolescents at the skatepark: identifying design features and youth behaviours that pose risk for falls

BackgroundSkateboarding is an increasingly popular leisure activity for youth, yet injuries due to falls are common. This study aimed to identify the features at skateparks and tricks performed by youth...

Level 1 autism spectrum disorder as a risk factor for suicide in a child: case report

Introduction: Suicidal behavior is one in which the individual has thoughts, plans, and actions with the intention of ending their own life. This is a global public health problem. Recently, autism spectrum disorders have begun to be considered risk factor for suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. Method: Case report. Case presentation: A 12-year-old boy who made a suicide attempt, was admitted to the emergency department at Centro Psíquico da Adolescência e Infância. After a period of irregular treatment, this child made a suicide attempt. As an inpatient, autism spectrum disorder with comorbid depressive disorder was diagnosed after longitudinal and systematic assessments of multidisciplinary team. Treatment was performed according to clinical issues. Discussion: This patient had a form of autism spectrum disorder on which core aspects were not so evident. In this child, there was an overlap between depressive symptoms and symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Despite social isolation being present, this patient proved capable to disguising his condition using techniques of social and behavioral imitation and camouflage with the aim of adapting to social environment. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of longitudinal evaluation and multidisciplinary assessment to differential diagnosis and appropriate treatment. It also opens a window for further investigations of a possible association between autism spectrum disorders and suicidal behavior in youth.

Restored Behaviour and the Formation of Ethnic Identity: Critiquing the Rai Youths’ Sakela

This paper examines four YouTube videos on Sakela, a dance performance of the Rai community, in two major contexts: enormous shifts and deviations in the performances of youths and the signature of unique ethnic identity. Sakela in its primitive art form of Rai culture has a ritual connection with the transcendent forces for human health and agriculture. However, there have been many deviations and changes in its highly contextualized aesthetic manifestations like festive performances, ceremonial presentations, recreational activities, political demonstrations or urban, and diasporic discourses. Against this backdrop, the paper addresses the primary questions of why these performances recur in different forms and what role the restoration of behaviour plays in forming the ethnic identity. The study approaches these questions with the objectives of analyzing the restored behaviour in the Rai youths’ Sakela and identifying the performances as preserving the signature of ethnic identity. The examination of primary data in the qualitative study includes the analysis of selected YouTube video contents comprising Sakela performances, using the content analysis method. Primary data are selected to quantify the phenomena of Rai youths’ restored behaviours in Sakela dance, their cultural meanings, and their relationships to ethnic identity. To validate the collected data, the study draws theoretical insights from Richard Schechner’s theory of restored behaviour. Schechner's theory promulgates that people are always performing anew out of old in a continual rehearsal. The behaviour is replicated and thus performances gradually emerge. Such behaviors ranging from small gestures to ritualistic performances become part of lives but they are no longer sticking to the original source. Pursuant to this conceptual framework, the paper argues that Rai youths’ Sakela demonstrates the signs of restored behaviour, the symbolic and coded aspects of their culture. It also posits that embodied ethnic traits evident in the performance ensure the persistence of membership in their community. Thus, Sakela continues to be the signature of ethnic belief system and unique identity in the lives of Rai youths. In all its aspects of the repetition of never the same, the embodiment of ethnic identity keeps on sticking to youths’ Sakela.

Impact of religiosity on Pakistani youth green purchase intensions and behavior: extending theory of planned behavior

Purpose Although much research has examined sustainable consumption, one key factor that has been rediscovered is religion. This study aims to include religiosity as a background variable to extend the theory of planned behavior in measuring the Pakistani youth’s green purchase intentions (GPI) and green purchase behavior (GPB) of energy-efficient home appliances. Design/methodology/approach Built on a positivist research philosophy and a deductive approach of a quantitative design, a convenience sample of 317 participants was approached via online forms. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze both the measurement model and the structural model. Findings The results suggest that religiosity impacts consumers’ beliefs to maintain control over green behavior and perceived behavioral control (PBC), followed by sustainable attitudes (SA), beliefs that significant others endorse green behavior subjective norms (SN) and GPI. Besides, PBC, SN and SA impact GPI. Furthermore, GPI and PBC impact GPB. Finally, PBC, SN and SA mediate the religiosity and GPI link. However, the moderation effect of PBC on the link of GPI with GPB was not supported. Research limitations/implications The model developed is specific to the Muslim population in Pakistan. Therefore, the model might only be able to be generalized to nations that have a similar culture to the Muslims in Pakistan or in other developing countries. Originality/value The current research advances the knowledge on the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development goal (SDGs) (Goal-12) by clarifying the mechanisms whereby religiosity impacts factors of sustainable consumption including SA, PBC and SN.

Saving behavior among immigrant and native youth

This study investigates the role of migration background in the saving behavior of youth, with a focus on immigrant generation, national origin, and the influence of cultural and socioeconomic factors. Drawing on a nationally representative dataset of over 28,000 secondary school students in the Netherlands, we employ binary logit models to analyze two dimensions of saving behavior: the likelihood of saving money and the propensity to use bank accounts for savings. Our findings reveal significant disparities in saving behavior among immigrant and non-immigrant youth. Migrant youth are less likely to save overall, and when they do, they exhibit a reduced inclination to use bank accounts for their savings. Furthermore, the study uncovers nuanced patterns within the immigrant youth population. First-generation immigrant youth display lower levels of saving and bank account usage compared to their second-generation counterparts, particularly to those with one foreign-born parent. Distinct national origin effects are observed, as Turkish and Moroccan youth exhibit reduced likelihoods of saving, particularly through bank accounts, compared to Surinamese and Dutch Antillean youth. The results also indicate that the disparities in saving behavior across migration background, immigrant generation, and national origin are partly explained by socioeconomic and cultural forces. Socio-economic status and parental education emerge as key determinants, with higher parental socio-economic resources and education levels positively associated with youth saving behavior and bank account usage. Additionally, religious affiliation, particularly among Muslim youth, contributes to variations in saving behavior due to the prohibition of interest-bearing transactions.

Exploring Consumer Procurement Patterns: A Comparative Analysis Between H&m And Zara

Embark on a quest to unravel the enigmatic tapestry woven by the whims of Indian youth, where the threads of fashion brands H&M and Zara intertwine. This odyssey delves into the depths of the ever-evolving Indian fashion realm, seeking to illuminate the alignment between the young and these sartorial titans, unveiling the intricate patterns that guide their sartorial pursuits. The journey unfolds through a harmonious fusion of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, a symphony of surveys, interviews, and observational data analysis. Qualitative melodies unveil the intrinsic motivations that orchestrate consumer choices, while quantitative cadences lend statistical validation and broader insights into the rhythms of buying patterns. The fruits of this expedition hold profound implications for H&M, Zara, and all those who navigate the Indian fashion market's currents. By comprehending the nuanced preferences and behaviors of the youth demographic, brands can tailor their product assortments, marketing strategies, and brand positioning efforts with the deft hand of a master artisan. The recommendations born from this odyssey shall serve as beacons, guiding strategic decisions towards heightened brand awareness, expanded market reach, and elevated customer satisfaction. This voyage into the unknown contributes a novel symphony to the annals of consumer behavior within the Indian fashion industry. By focusing on the unique context of youth consumer preferences and behaviors towards H&M and Zara, the study weaves an original tapestry of market trends and consumer dynamics. Furthermore, it illuminates paths for improvement, such as amplifying awareness of collections and catering to diverse income groups, thus enriching the strategic planning and decision-making processes for brands and marketers alike.

Preventing Online Addictive Behaviors Promoting Active Online Use: Preliminary Findings in Italian Early Adolescents

<strong>Introduction:</strong> Information and Communication Technologies (i.e., ICT) are fundamental in everyone’s daily lives, especially for youths who integrate them into their routines as instruments for academic, relational, and entertainment purposes (Oka et al., 2021). Thus, it becomes crucial to differentiate positive or proactive online behaviors, which motivate people to interact directly with others and are positively associated with well-being, from negative or addictive online behaviors, which increase emotional, behavioral, or work-related and academic problems (Alimoradi et al., 2019; Gjoneska et al., 2022; Oka et al., 2021). Social and clinical policies are mostly focused on negative and addictive online behaviors in youths, due to their huge effects on mental health, which also significantly impact social and health costs to deal with these problems (Cañas & Estévez, 2021; Lopez-Fernandez & Kuss, 2020). To our knowledge, promotive policies and interventions in this field are still lacking, because they mostly focus only on the reduction of problematic behaviors rather than promoting individual or contextual protective factors (Cañas & Estévez, 2021; Li et al., 2020). Contrary to this trend, considering the potentiality of ICTs for youths, research is now highlighting the importance of considering both preventive and promotive components in online behaviors. According to the Positive Youth Development perspective (Lerner et al., 2018), which emphasized the importance of focusing on individuals’ resources and protective factors, a preventive-promotive intervention was developed and implemented in an Italian Junior High School, that aimed to contrast negative online behaviors, while promoting positive ones (La Rose et al., 2010). <strong>Aims of this Study:</strong> Thus, the present study preliminary investigated the effectiveness of this intervention, by analyzing longitudinal mean differences of two negative (i.e., problematic use of social network and smartphones) and two positive (i.e., searching for social support online, offering social support online) internet-related behaviors in youths. <strong>Method and Results:</strong> 358 youths (35% females; Mage=15.35, S.D.=.63) completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (Monacis et al., 2017), the Smartphone Addiction Scale (Kwon et al., 2013), and the Active and Passive Use of Social Networking Sites Scale (Remondi et al., 2023) in the pre-and-post intervention assessments. Repeated Analysis of Variances showed that smartphone and SNS addictions significantly decreased from pre-to-post assessments. In addition, offering and searching for social support on SN significantly increased across the two time points. <strong>Discussion:</strong> Our findings showed that addictive smartphone and SNS use significantly decreased in a short time period, while relational activities engaged with SNS significantly increased across the intervention. These results could suggest the short-term efficacy of the project and could be considered in the implementation of other school-based interventions, and in the implementation of more effective socioeconomic strategies to contrast internet-related addictive behaviors (Andreassen et al., 2017).

Development Of A Suite Of Attitudinal, Behavioral, And Contextual Measures To Assess Child Sexual Exploitation

The lack of child sexual exploitation (CSE) measures for high school youth hinders research to inform the development and evaluation of CSE prevention and response efforts. The purpose of the current study was to describe the development (via community-based participatory processes), descriptive statistics, and psychometric properties of a suite of instruments to assess CSE attitudes and behaviors for high school personnel and youth. Study results provide initial evidence of validity (i.e. face validity, internal consistency, factor structure) for the suite of measures. Implications for measurement refinement and use of instruments for program development and evaluation are discussed.

The Kids Are Alright: Changing Perceptions for a New Wellbeing

This work is an Indigenous Métissage weaving together poems, stories, scholarship, and images. It suggests that the distress, educational struggles, changes in traditional educational pathways, and other behaviors of current youth in response to social challenges offer ways out of these crises rather than being symptoms of them. This work offers pathways to learn from the wisdom of distress, and ways to create healing futures for ourselves, the land, waters, ancestors, and All Our Relations.

Social Media and Suicidal Behavior in Youth: Slippery Slope or Simply Overstressed?

Social Media and Suicidal Behavior in Youth: Slippery Slope or Simply Overstressed?

The Phenomenon of Contemporary Youth's "Bai Lan": Cultural Construction and Media Communication

As a new variant of youth subculture, "Bai Lan" reflects the youth's stance expression and value orientation in the Internet era. Through network ethnographic analysis and semi-structured interview, this paper systematically sorts out the cultural characteristics, evolution process and complex motives of the phenomenon, and makes an in-depth analysis of the unintended consequences brought by the phenomenon in the process of dissemination, forming three research findings: First, the phenomenon is a cultural product formed by young people who weaken their identity and deconstruct traditional values under their own development difficulties; Second, the generation, expression and dissemination of "Bai Lan" culture are interactive processes between individual youth, groups and network media; Third, youth "Bai Lan" is a kind of strategic behavior, whose subjective motives can be divided into emotions and pressure vent, self-protection and self-benefit maximization. In the process of "Bai Lan", negative language framework and media distorted narrative are likely to cause objective adverse effects on youth's cognitive orientation and behavior choice.

Chabot’s as Entertaining Content for the Youth in Pakistan

This study investigates the impact of chatbots as a form of entertainment on Pakistani youth. Chatbots have gained popularity for providing personalized and engaging experiences through conversational interfaces. However, limited research addresses their effects specifically as entertainment for young people in Pakistan. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, this study gathers in-depth insights from six purposively sampled Pakistani youth familiar with chatbots. Guided by social cognitive theories, entertainment education, and media influence frameworks, the research employs in-depth interviews and content analysis to explore participant’s perceptions and interactions with chatbots. The findings reveal the potential benefits and drawbacks of chatbots as entertainment, highlighting their influence on youth behavior, attitudes, and information acquisition. Additionally, the results offer guidance for developing responsible digital entertainment platforms that consider cultural nuances and developmental needs. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and content creators to thoughtfully integrate chatbots into the entertainment industry for Pakistani youth.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF PHUBBING, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN YOUTH

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between phubbing behavior, emotional intelligence, and psychological distress in youth and the predicting role of phubbing and emotional intelligence in determining psychological distress in youth. Research Design: Correlational research design was used. Place And Duration of Study: This study was conducted between March 2022 to February 2023 at Department of Applied Psychology, University of Management and Technology Lahore. Subjects and Methods: A total of 200 university students aged between 18 and 26 (M =21.36; SD =1.94) were selected from different public and private sector universities of Lahore through convenient sampling technique. The Phubbing Scale,54 Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale,55 and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 2156 along with self-constructed demographic sheet were used to collect data. Results: The results revealed a positive relationship between phubbing and psychological distress in young adults. Further, phubbing was found to be a significant predictor of psychological distress in young adults, however Overall emotional intelligence did not predict it. Further, no significant gender differences were found in phubbing, emotional intelligence, and psychological distress. Conclusion: The study highlights the impact of excessive mobile usage on emotional intelligence and psychological distress levels and may help in proposing interventions to reduce phubbing and improve emotional intelligence as potential solutions to mitigate psychological distress.