European Youth Research Articles

Empowering Youth through Open Data: Map-Based Storytelling of Croatian vs. European Youth

Abstract. In the digital age, open data has become a critical asset for fostering transparency, accountability, and civic engagement. However, the widespread availability of data has outpaced citizens' ability to effectively utilize it, underscoring the need for data literacy skills, especially among youth. This paper addresses the gap in data literacy by proposing an innovative teaching approach that leverages map-based storytelling to engage young people and enhance their data literacy. By integrating real-world open datasets into interactive visual narratives, this approach aims to captivate young audiences, develop critical thinking skills, and foster a deeper understanding of socio-economic issues. Through a case study of a Datathon project titled “Croatian Youth vs. EU: Who has it better?”, this research demonstrates the efficacy of combining data visualization and storytelling to promote data literacy and civic engagement. The findings highlight the potential of open data initiatives and open-source technologies in empowering youth and enhancing their participation in open government initiatives and policy-making processes.

COOPERATION OF EU AND UKRAINIAN YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS DURING THE 1990s (Based on the Documents of the EU Historical Archive)

The article highlights the development of relations between European and Ukrainian youth organisations after 1991, as well as the challenges that Ukraine has faced in establishing these relations. The author notes that there is currently no research on the cooperation of European youth organisations with Ukrainian youth organisations after 1991. This study was developed thanks to a grant from the Visegrad Fund for Research of the Historical Archive of the European Union. Access to original materials stored in the Historical Archive of the European Union allowed to analyse the main milestones in the development of cooperation between Ukrainian and European youth organizations after restoring Ukraine's independence. The article analyses the change in attitude towards the countries of Eastern Europe as potential partners in the last decade of the existence of the Soviet Union, as well as after its collapse. It was concluded that the opposition between the Soviet Union and Western Europe negatively influenced the development of relations between youth organizations in the transition period. The author concludes that after restoring Ukraine's independence, Ukrainian youth organizations made significant efforts to establish cooperation with European organizations. However, the state did not have enough funds for the development of foreign youth policy and the necessary knowledge due to the lack of experience in cooperation with Western European partners.

The European Youth Guarantee scheme: A viable solution to youth unemployment?

The European Youth Guarantee scheme: A viable solution to youth unemployment?

Suicide and suicide attempt rates among children and youth in Europe in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction and aim: Suicide, the act of taking one’s own life, represents the most final decision a person can make. When this type of decision involves an adolescent or a child, people are often left questioning what led to it. The visibly increasing number of suicides in Poland in last years, especially among individuals as young as 12, motivated the authors to take a look at the current state of knowledge about young people’s mental health. The authors investigated whether the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath had a particularly strong impact on young people’s lives and what imprint it has left on their mental well-being. Another aim of this work was to summarise possible factors related to the pandemic that could have had a negative or positive influence on minors’ mental state and health, with a specific focus on Europe. Materials and methods: PubMed and Google Scholar literature search, and Google-based research. Results: The review presents statistics on suicides and suicide attempts in various European countries, and analyses possible reasons, including mental disorders and the impact of home confinement caused by the pandemic. Conclusion: It can be presumed that the pandemic had a negative impact on young people’s mental state. However, the overall outcomes are in correlation with pre-existing family and peer relationships, abusive environments, and problems that developed before the pandemic, as well as mental disorders. Also, the quality of mental health support systems varies between countries, making it difficult to generalise the findings.

Suicide and suicide attempt rates among children and youth in Europe in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Suicide and suicide attempt rates among children and youth in Europe in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Exclusive and dual use of electronic cigarettes among European youth in 32 countries with different regulatory landscapes

BackgroundThe Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) partially harmonised the regulation of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in Europe, but individual countries maintain jurisdiction over bans on use in public places, domestic advertising, taxation...

City of YOUth

Lublin is the first Polish city to have been chosen as the “European Youth Capital” (in 2023). Awarded by the European Youth Forum, the title aims to bolster the position of young people, promote their participation in social life, and strengthen the European identity.

Chasing balloons as scientific practice: On transformative cocreation and epistemic ethics of care in the emerging field of youth citizen social science

How does including youth in research within a citizen social science framework challenge and transform our participatory action research practices and approaches? Through a storying journey we unravel how the training and subsequent conducting of a co-creative research process with young citizen social scientists are evolving from a cacophony of traditions, approaches and disciplines, among them youth participatory action research, action research in organizations, citizen science and social anthropology. The article is based on empirical research with a group of young people in Oslo, Norway, involved in a large collaborative citizen social science project on social inclusion of youth in Europe. We have witnessed closely how an epistemic ethics of care is integral to securing the epistemic justice of youth and argue that citizen social science can promote both epistemic justice and epistemic abundance by including youth in all parts of a rigorous research process that produces new scientific knowledge. Yet, we found that performing an ethics of care is (close to) impossible within the current conditions and structures of social sciences, as our ideals and views on what science is, delimit the practices of relational care necessary for inclusive processes. The implications of our findings call for an ethics of care framework for both citizen social science and action research practices.

A 16-month follow-up after a youth-led social marketing intervention to encourage healthy lifestyles in children (aged 9 at baseline and 11 at follow-up) from disadvantaged neighbourhoods: the European Youth Tackling Obesity-Kids project

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to assess the influence of the European Youth Tackling Obesity-Kids (EYTO-Kids) 10-month intervention, based on social marketing and peer-led methodologies, at 16 month of its ending. Study designChildren (aged 9 at baseline and 11 at the follow-up) from disadvantaged neighbourhoods who participated in the 10-month EYTO-Kids parallel-cluster randomised controlled intervention study in Reus (Spain) were included. The number of participants was 252 (retention rate: 67.2%) in the intervention group (7 schools) and 226 (retention rate: 69.1%) in the control one (8 schools). Primary (physical activity and fruit consumption) and secondary (screen time; and vegetables, fast food, and sugary drink consumption) outcomes were assessed. ResultsAt follow-up, consumption of ≥1 fruit per day increased in girls (odds ratio [OR] (95% confidence interval [CI]) = 2.28 (1.2; 4.2), P = 0.012) and all children (OR (95%CI) = 2.28 (1.0; 2.6), P = 0.044) in the intervention group vs. the control one. Physical activity ≥6 h/week similarly increased in both groups. ConclusionAt long-term effectiveness of a 10-month intervention on improving fruit consumption in children was observed. Therefore, peer-led and social marketing methodologies enhance healthy lifestyles by conveying children towards healthy choices.

Multilingual ELF and European identity – contributions from study abroad through the Erasmus programme

ABSTRACT This article analyses the relationship between study abroad through the Erasmus Programme, European identity, and the role of English as a Lingua Franca in identification processes with Europe. It focuses on three groups of European higher-education students (N = 155) from different nationalities (N = 26) that participated in a sojourn abroad in three European contexts which are thought to represent Northern (Oulu, Finland); Eastern (Bucharest, Romania); and Southern (Lleida, Catalonia) Europe. The study follows a PRE–POST design, corresponding to the beginning and end of the participants’ experience abroad and it analyses quantitative data collected through questionnaires. The results of the study indicate that contrary to what is claimed by the European Commission, studying abroad through the Erasmus programme does not have a substantial impact on the development of an alleged European identity. These results contrast with those on the value that the participants allocated to the English language, which is perceived as a means that unifies European youth.

Discrimination in Youth Sport: Exploring the Experiences of European Coaches

Discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation remains a critical concern across Europe, including within the sphere of youth sports. Research has shown that youth sports can be a fertile environment for discrimination and bullying and that coaches play a key role in preventing or mitigating discriminatory situations. Given the crucial role of coaches, it is therefore important to build our understanding of the experiences, perspectives, and needs of those coaches concerning discrimination in sports. Against this background, this paper presents the results of an applied survey of 174 European youth sport coaches conducted as part of the INCLUDE project. In particular, this survey focuses on the experiences of coaches when witnessing and reporting discrimination, as well as their perspectives on what needs to be done in the policy and educational areas to combat issues of discrimination. Results show that 25% of coaches witness discrimination on a monthly basis and that fans or spectators are perceived as the most common perpetrators. To combat the issues, coaches report a need for greater policy support, funding, training, and awareness raising. To conclude, we discuss the practical, policy, and research implications of these findings.

Injuries and Persistent Pain in Elite Adolescent Archery Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study.

This cross-sectional epidemiological study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of injuries among young archers engaged in high-intensity training during the European Youth Championship. A total of 200 participants (104 males/96 females) from 34 countries were included, with a mean age of 16.9 years and average competitive experience of 6.5 years. Structured questionnaires, administered by four physiotherapist interviewers, gathered comprehensive data. Results revealed that 43.5% of participants experienced shoulder pain during training, highlighting the vulnerability of upper limbs in archers. Additionally, 30% required medications to facilitate training, underscoring the impact of injuries on continued participation. Physiotherapy was utilized by 52.3% of participants, emphasizing the need for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, 31.8% had to cease training due to injuries, indicating a substantial hindrance to athletic progression. The mean pain duration was 3.9 months, with an average intensity of 5.94, and 8% exhibited symptoms of central sensitization. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a noteworthy prevalence of injuries, particularly in the upper limbs, among young archers undergoing intensive training. The findings underscore the importance of targeted injury prevention strategies and comprehensive rehabilitation approaches to ensure the well-being and sustained participation of young athletes in competitive archery.

Acoustic Evaluation of Trabzon Beşirli Central Tennis Court Multi-Purpose Hall

Today, although acoustic designs for different purposes are not realized in sports halls designed for sports activities, these halls are widely used for various events such as conferences and concerts. In this study; The main activity area in the Beşirli Central Tennis Court building, which was built for sports activities within the scope of the European Youth Games in Trabzon Province, was evaluated in terms of acoustics for different functional uses by computer simulation method. First of all, 3D models were prepared for the current conditions of the main sports event areas according to different audience occupancy rates. Then the models were transferred to the simulation program to evaluate the objective parameters of the sound. After obtaining the objective parameter values of the sound, 3D models of the hall were prepared again with the sound-absorbing mechanisms placed between the existing steel structural system on the ceiling plane of the hall, designed for the realization of sports, music and speech activities in the sports activity areas. The prepared 3D models were transferred to the ODEON V10 program and the simulation process was repeated. As a result of all simulations, the values of the objective parameters of the sound obtained for indoor sports activity areas were compared and evaluated with each other and the accepted optimum value ranges.

Introduction: social movements and radicalisation in Europe

ABSTRACT This Special Issue (SI) provides a nuanced understanding of the root causes of radicalisation among European youth with both nativist and religious affiliations. The contributions challenge the civilisational paradigm and the reductionist interpretations that often conflate it with extremism, terrorism, and violence. Our contributors contend that the rise of populist rhetoric across Europe, alongside the notable strengthening of grassroots resistance, has led to a pronounced polarisation of public opinion. Drawing on the literature in Social Movement Studies, each contributor provides an analysis of various processes of youth radicalisation across different European nations. They illuminate that both nativist and Islamist forms of radicalisation among European youth function as frames for justification and alternative political expressions – almost akin to a form of anti-politics. This serves as a means for them to protect themselves from the destabilising effects of deindustrialisation, discrimination, alienation, humiliation, and stigmatisation. The findings underscore that radicalised youth tend to employ unconventional forms of political expression to articulate their knowledge and garner public attention to their marginalised status. This stems from their lack of trust in political centers, which they perceive as failing to provide remedies for disenfranchised youths experiencing socio-economic, political, spatial, and nostalgic deprivation in the era of globalisation.

The effect of the local economic context and local public services on financial satisfaction among youth in European cities.

The post-2008 economic recovery period has seen varying degrees of improvement in the well-being of young individuals across different countries, regions, and cities of the EU. This study contributes to the literature on the geography of well-being by examining the impact of urban economic contexts on the subjective well-being of youth in Europe, a topic that has received limited attention so far. Specifically, we investigate how the local economic context has affected financial satisfaction among the young (15-35 age group) in European cities during the recovery period after the economic crisis. We study whether living in a city with better opportunities in the labor market, on the housing market, or with better local services (e.g., education or health care) affect financial satisfaction among the young. We carried out multilevel analysis of financial satisfaction among young adults on data from the Quality of Life in European Cities survey (years 2012, 2015, 2019), which asks about aspects of quality of life among a representative sample of the population in a large number of cities in EU Member States. Overall, the results suggest that a better labor market context (where it is in general easier to find a job) has a statistically significant positive effect on financial satisfaction among the young. Our results also show that satisfaction with the financial situation among young adults is significantly higher in cities with a higher quality of local social services. On the other hand, we have found only small (and statistically non-significant) contextual effect related to the local housing market.

In between Korean and New Zealander: Extrinsic success beliefs and well-being of Korean youth in New Zealand

Korean immigrants have migrated to New Zealand over the past three decades in search of a happier and more balanced life. While they anticipated that their children would be integrated into New Zealand society, they have primarily settled in Korean ethnic enclaves. In this context, younger Korean New Zealanders have been exposed to and influenced by New Zealand’s national and Korean ethnic cultures. This study examined success beliefs and well-being among Korean youth in New Zealand with a Third Culture Kid background (TCK K-NZ) in comparison to Korean youth in Korea (K-Korean) and European New Zealand youth (Pākehā). Results indicated that TCK K-NZ youth endorsed extrinsic success similarly to K-Korean youth, but that valuing extrinsic success predicted lowered well-being only for K-Korean youth. Conversely, valuing intrinsic success predicted higher well-being across the three groups. Results also revealed that TCK K-NZ youth's well-being levels were between those of K-Korean and Pākehā youth, potentially influenced by different structural relations between success beliefs and well-being, as well as their position as “third culture kids” in New Zealand. This study contributes to understanding cultures' roles in formulating success beliefs and the relationship between success beliefs and well-being for Korean New Zealander youth.

Direction of Korean Youth Policy Seen through Youth Guarantee and AmeriCorps: Policy Proposal That Does Not Miss Out on Vulnerable Groups

Youth period has become much longer than before, and difficulties lurk in various areas such as society, economy, jobs, human relationships, and family issues. In order to properly understand the lives of young people and prepare policies that can be understood by young people, we investigated the cases of the European Union's Youth Guarantee System and the AmeriCorps of USA. The EU implemented the Youth Guarantee in 2013, and the United States reorganized its youth policy in 2008, the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Youth Policy Forum. The characteristic of both systems is that they address the problems of youth in general and face the problems of vulnerable groups. Although it may seem a bit loose as a benefit-type policy for the vulnerable, it aims for a long-term strategy based on the inclusion of vulnerable youth in the overall youth population. Our country's youth policy is just getting started. We investigated Seoul City's youth policy, which is known to be the most active among the policies of the central government and local governments in the early stages of the policy. Based on the current policy, we hope to prepare a policy that includes the voices of young people and provides equal support to vulnerable groups.

Exploring experiences and challenges in implementing youth participatory action research in Norwegian lower secondary schools

ABSTRACT Most empirical knowledge on the processes and challenges of conducting youth participatory action research (YPAR) in the school setting stems from research in the US; only a few studies exist among European youth. In addition, what youth participation looks like in YPAR is rarely described. The present study investigates the experiences of implementing a Junior-researcher YPAR initiative from the perspectives of students and teachers in five ninth-grade classes in Norway. We also observed two of the classes throughout the process. The findings from interviews and observations showed that the Junior-researcher mostly promoted a sound experience of participation and knowledge production among the students. However, students and teachers were not familiarized with a YPAR designed to promote unstructured learning methods and student autonomy, or to limit teacher involvement. The present results illustrate some of the challenges youth participatory approaches may face in a school context.

Why did the “world of the 1960s” disappear? About the reasons for the decline of the youth protest movement in late 60s of the XX century in the countries of Western Europe and the USA

The article is about the reasons of the decline of the Western European and USA youth protest movement in late 60s of the 20th century. According to the authors, the main reasons for the decline of the Movement are: the spontaneity of the protests, the absents of the joint coordination of actions, mistrust political institutions, the narrowness and limitations of ideas and slogans). The change of attitude towards the youth by the government circles and public of the Western countries in the early 1970s played an important role in the minimization of protest activity. As the result of it was the development of a fundamentally new youth policy based on the “whip and gingerbread” method: on the one hand, there was a strengthening of the repressions against riots participants, and on the other hand, the involvement of youths representative into political, state, business and public institutions with the aim of integration began protest activists in public life. Finally, the new trends in the social and political development of the Western countries in early 1970s become the significant factor in the decline of the protest movement. Such trends included changes in economic, political and cultural interactions in countries of Western Europe and USA, in particular the deterioration of the economic situation, as well as the extension of the social elite at the expense of students and graduates of technical and economic faculties. Finally, the new trends in the social and political development of the Western countries in early 1970s becаme the significant factor in the decline of the protest movement, in particular the deterioration of the economic situation, as well as the expansion of the social elite at the expense of students and graduates of technical and economic faculties. This contributed to the further erosion of the social base of the protests and the focus of youth on their careers.

The Impact of Multilevel Governmental Policy on Rural Catalonia: Voices From the Grassroots

One decade on from the launch of the European Youth Guarantee Initiative, there is still limited research into its efficacy in rural areas. In Spain, a country with significant urban-rural disparity, the complexity of the governmental structure across the country has made investigations into the effectiveness of youth employment strategies less common as compared with other European states. Our study analyses the meso-level structure of the Spanish government and how the Public Employment Services (PES) factor into the overall process of disseminating active labour market policies across the country. The study is based in the autonomous community of Catalonia and includes a case study in the region of Lleida. Through open-ended interviews with members at different levels of the local PES, including the director and various other staff, as well as with local policymakers, youth workers in local organisations, and the youth themselves, we aim to shed light on how the Youth Guarantee is being implemented on the ground. This will take into account the structural constraints, needs, and challenges under the new law as expressed by the various stakeholders. The results indicate that both youth and local PES are negatively impacted by some centralised aspects of employment policy, such as the stringent requirements for training courses that prove prohibitive for rural areas, as well as the urban-centric design of training courses. Further, the youth collectively express a strong desire for their voice to find expression in the design of active labour market policies.