Experiences Of Young Adults Research Articles

Using the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) to Capture the Day-to-Day Linguistic Experiences of Young Adults

Both recently and historically, naturalistic datasets and corpus analyses have played an important role in the formulation and testing of key theories and hypotheses in language development and use. The present work details ways in which an existing tool, the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), can be used in the cognitive and language science domains to better understand the content of day-to-day speech. From our sample of 75 young adult college students – a population with diverse linguistic experiences – we found enormous variability in the total amount of speech produced and the number of unique words spoken. Further, we discovered that individuals who speak frequently may not be the same individuals that produce long utterances, and we quantified the contexts in which individuals tend to speak. We argue that studies examining naturalistic speech in adults are rare, and through our data, we aim to demonstrate how the EAR can be used in novel ways to create both individual and group-level corpora of adults’ spoken language use.

On a fast-track to adulthood: social integration and identity formation experiences of young-adults of 1.5 generation immigrants

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the dynamic nature of social integration and local identity formation as experienced by young-adult immigrants who arrived in Israel as children or adolescents (1.5 generation) from the former Soviet Union (FSU). 1.5 generation immigrants (1.5GI) are versed in the cultures of both origin and host countries while not fully belonging to either, and as young adults are challenged by both cultural and developmental transitions. Young adults in industrialized societies nowadays experience a stage of ‘emerging adulthood’ characterized by uncertainty and inquiry. However, it is not clear how 1.5GI experience this stage. Based on in-depth interviews with 25 FSU 1.5GI, thematic analysis of the data led to four categories: 1) Segregation in childhood and adolescence; 2) Military service as a turning point, where their substantial integration and Israeli identity began to form; 3) A fast-track to adulthood on their own: 1.5GI cannot fully enjoy the emerging adulthood period, and move rapidly into adulthood; and 4) A spectrum of identities: varying degrees of dominance of Israeli vs. FSU identity. The study examines identity formation as an ongoing process, stresses specific stages in the lives of young immigrants, and their implications for 1.5GI identity and integration.

Make up or break up? Partnership transitions among young adults in England and Wales

This study investigates partnership transitions of young adults born between 1974 and 1990 in England and Wales. These cohorts were affected by the expansion of higher education, increasing gender equality, and ideational changes, but faced increased economic precarity caused by the economic and housing crisis. Given these changes, it is likely that the partnership experiences of young adults including marriage, cohabitation, separation, and repartnering have also undergone considerable changes. We apply competing risks event history analysis to combined data from the British Household Panel Survey and the UK Household Longitudinal Study to determine how birth cohort, gender, socio-economic background, and educational attainment influence partnership changes. We study the transition into and out of first cohabitation and marriage and repartnering between age 16 and 27. Cohabitation has become a universal form of first union among young adults born in the late 1970s and 1980s regardless of their socio-economic background or educational level, but their first unions do not last long. While cohabiters are equally likely to marry or separate in the oldest cohort (1974-1979), cohabiting unions are very likely to end in separation among the two youngest cohorts (1980-1984 and 1985-1990). Consequently, repartnering has become common; those in the youngest cohort repartner rather quickly suggesting that an increasing number of individuals experience multiple partnerships. Highly educated young adults have higher rates of entry into first cohabitation than their lower educated counterparts across all cohorts. However, we do not find differences in cohabitation outcomes by socio-economic background and educational level indicating that the main changes have taken place across birth cohorts. The results also suggest that there is a convergence in partnership experiences among young men and women. The increased prevalence of sliding into and out of cohabitation could indicate significant changes in the meaning young people attach to first partnerships.

Prevalence of trauma among young adults exposed to stressful events of armed conflicts in South Asia: Experiences from Kashmir.

Objective: There is dearth of studies regarding the exposure of traumatic conflicts in Kashmir, India, because of limited research undertaken in this area. Therefore, the main intent of this study was to estimate the prevalence of trauma among young adults exposed to violent and stressful events of armed conflict. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on the prevalence of trauma in all the 10 districts of Kashmir Valley using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected from 693 students by means of the Demographic Information Questionnaire and Kashmir Conflict Exposure Checklist (KCEC). Results: Findings revealed that one third of the respondents were exposed to high traumatic exposure (33.3%), close to quarter of the participants reported extremely high traumatic exposure (23.7%), over one third of the respondents were exposed to moderate traumatic exposure (33.5%), and about one tenth of the sample were exposed to low traumatic exposure (9.5%) in the context of the Kashmir conflict. The prevalence of trauma was 100% in both males and females. The traumatic events with highest rate of prevalence were "feeling stressed" (97.3%), followed by "fear of search operations, crackdowns or curfews" (89.2%); "witnessing a protest or being part of it" (88.3%); "a family member, relative or friend being hit with a bullet, pellet, or any other explosive" (76.5%); and "exposure to violent media portrayals" (74.3%). Thirteen of 17 traumatic events were significantly associated with gender wherein males reported significantly higher prevalence in all of these events than females, except one. Conclusions: The findings of the current study revealed a very disturbing picture regarding the prevalence of traumatic experience of Kashmiri young adults and recommends that educational institutions and nongovernment organizations in Kashmir should pay attention toward guiding the young adults of Kashmir in the right direction for their growth, safety, and welfare, in addition to providing mental health support services, to enhance psychological competence, prevent the development of psychiatric disorders, and utilize the potentials of youth for nation building. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

"Your Body Is Not At All Where You Left It": Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors' Experiences Transitioning Back Into Physical Activity After Treatment.

Physical activity (PA) can help manage cancer treatment-related side effects and improve well-being following treatment; however, resuming PA after a period of inactivity due to cancer can be challenging. The purpose of this study was to explore adolescents and young adults (AYAs) experiences transitioning back into PA after a period of inactivity due to cancer treatment. Twelve previously active AYAs (Mage = 30 ± 5.8 years) were purposefully sampled and engaged in a semi-structured interview. The following four themes were generated through a reflexive thematic analysis: PA is described as important and valuable; navigating one's appearance and fitness changes after cancer treatment within the PA context; supportive care is essential to successful PA transitions; and juxtaposed environments: fitness facilities, cities, and green spaces. Developing strategies aimed at gradually transitioning into PA should be a priority to improve AYAs' well-being through survivorship.

Reflecting on the experiences of Syrian refugee young adults in adult education in Quebec: The practitioners’ perspective

Much research focuses on schooling for refugee children in resettlement contexts; however, limited research addresses young adult refugees (YAR) between 16–24 years in the adult education (AE) system. This paper strives to fill this gap by providing the perspectives of 12 AE practitioners who welcomed and worked with Syrian YAR in Quebec, Canada. Practitioners’ experiences and challenges faced with this refugee population reveal strategies needed to enable YAR to flourish and attain their objectives, including a call for systemic change in AE. Critical race theory and the capabilities approach set the conceptual framework guided by a narrative inquiry methodology. Semi-structured interviews provided the data that were thematically analyzed through collaborative work. From our understanding of the effectiveness of AE approaches for YAR, it is clear, based on the insights provided by the practitioners, that the face of AE has changed, and its current approach does not work for the YAR population.

Feasibility and Efficacy of Partially Replacing Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide with Bendamustine in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients Undergoing Haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplantation

Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-CY) is the most widely applied graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis regimen in T-cell replete haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (haplo-BMT). Although PT-CY has met with great success in the haplo-BMT arena by suppressing GVHD, patients without acute GVHD have high relapse rates. One strategy to reduce relapse rates being explored by others is a dosage reduction of PT-CY. We have taken a different approach in evaluating whether partially replacing PT-CY with post-transplantation bendamustine (PT-BEN) would be advantageous, an idea based on our preclinical research identifying several beneficial immunomodulatory properties of BEN. We therefore initiated and completed a Phase Ia trial to evaluate the progressive substitution of PT-CY with PT-BEN (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02996773). We compared outcomes between 13 patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies who received PT-CY/BEN and 31 contemporaneous haplo-BMT recipients treated with the same myeloablative conditioning regimens but receiving only PT-CY. We found that partial replacement of PT-CY with PT-BEN (PT-CY/BEN) on day +4 was well tolerated and associated with significantly earlier trilineage engraftment. We also report favorable trends toward significant improvements on univariate and multivariate analyses with PT-CY/BEN compared with PT-CY with respect to rates of chronic GVHD (hazard ratio [HR], .08; 95% confidence interval [CI], .005 to 1.11; P=.06), and GVHD-free relapse-free survival (GRFS) (HR, .22; 95% CI, .05 to .86; P=.039). Our human trial has now transitioned to Phase Ib, which will further evaluate the safety and potential benefits of PT-CY/BEN. Herein we also expand our pediatric, adolescent, and young adult experience to 31 patients, demonstrating overall survival, progression-free survival, and GRFS at 3 years of 85.6%, 76.1%, and 58.2%, respectively, in a largely racial/ethnic minority cohort. PT-CY/BEN appears to be a promising treatment option that requires further evaluation.

Social connections during physical isolation: How a shift to online interaction explains friendship satisfaction and social well-being

Measures implemented to combat the spread of COVID-19 have included stay-at-home orders, social distancing, and self-isolation, all of which have limited in-person interactions. Given the key role of technology in maintaining social connections during this period, the current study examined the experiences of young adults who shifted from predominantly offline to online interaction with friends during COVID-19. Specifically, we investigated whether changing from interacting predominantly with friends in-person to interacting predominantly with friends online (conceptualized as a major change in context of interaction) was associated with lower social well-being (i.e., greater loneliness and lower social connectedness), and examined whether perceived changes in friendship satisfaction as a result of the pandemic mediated these effects. Participants (N = 329; 68.1% female) were Australian young adults, aged between 17 and 25 years (Mage = 20.05 years, SD = 1.97). Data were collected between April 15th and May 24th, 2020, during the nationwide lockdown in Australia. Results indicated that for young adults who primarily interacted offline with friends prior to COVID-19 (as compared to those who interacted predominantly online or equally online and offline before the pandemic), the shift away from face-to-face interactions was associated with a greater perceived reduction in satisfaction with friendships, which, in turn, was associated with greater loneliness and lower social connectedness. Our results highlight the need to consider how young adults adjust to changes in contexts for engaging with friends and how they maintain meaningful social interactions with others during times of extended physical isolation.

The Symptom Experience in Adolescents and Young Adults with Advanced Cancer

The Symptom Experience in Adolescents and Young Adults with Advanced Cancer

School Refusal in Immigrants and Ethnic Minority Groups: A Qualitative Study of Adolescents' and Young Adults' Experiences.

BackgroundSchool refusal is one cause of school absenteeism along with truancy, and the two can be difficult to distinguish. School absenteeism behaviors among students in transcultural situations (immigrants or children of immigrants) and from ethnic minority groups are subject to misdiagnosis and decreased access to care. To improve the care provided, this exploratory study addresses the experience of adolescents and young adults engaging in school refusal, from immigrant and ethnic minority groups.MethodsSixteen participants between the ages of 16 and 20 years old presenting with school refusal were interviewed for this qualitative study. All participants were either immigrants, children of immigrants, or from an ethnic minority group. We conducted a qualitative analysis based on Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.ResultsParticipants experienced school refusal as a loss of identity and as a failure to achieve what was perceived as parental expectations of success, which triggered feelings of worthlessness, shame, and guilt. The loss of a peer group, namely their classmates, as a result of school absenteeism was experienced as a marginalization from the larger society. Although participants denied having personally experienced racism, some of them recalled their parents experiencing racism at school.ConclusionSchool refusal complicates identity construction, autonomy, and integration into society. For adolescents and young adults from immigrant and ethnic minority backgrounds, it also triggers guilt, transgenerational traumatic memories, and the fear of marginalization. In addition to validated therapies for school refusal, sociological, intersectional, and cross-cultural tools would be a valuable addition to treatment.

Psychotic-like experiences of young adults in the general population predict mental disorders

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) have been identified as risk markers for psychotic disorders and may indicate an individual's susceptibility to mental disorders in general. We examined whether 23 PLEs (assessed with M-CIDI questionnaire) reported in young adulthood (n = 1313) predict subsequent psychotic or any mental disorders in the general population. We also investigated whether these possible associations are explained by general psychological distress assessed with the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). The register follow-up period spanned 10–12 years. In Cox regression models, PLEs predicted subsequent psychotic disorders (n = 12) when the effects of age, sex, education, and marital status were adjusted for, but not when general psychological distress was added to the model. Having any mental disorders during follow-up (n = 91) was predicted by PLEs reported at a younger age, when controlling for age, sex, education, marital status, and general psychological distress. In line with earlier results in other age groups, PLEs can be seen as a sign of vulnerability to not just psychotic but all mental disorders during the following years also among young adults in the general population. PLEs were a predictive marker of general psychopathology independently from general psychological distress.

Moving up: Healthcare transition experiences of adolescents and young adults with cystic fibrosis

PurposeThe experience of healthcare transition from pediatric to adult care in cystic fibrosis (CF) remains poorly understood, particularly among racially and ethnically diverse adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with CF. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of a diverse sample of AYAs with CF at one urban academic medical center regarding healthcare transition. Design and methodsGuided by qualitative descriptive methodology, we purposively selected AYAs who represented the pre and post transition experience: some AYAs had experienced the transition preparation program CF R.I.S.E. Demographic information and responsibility for self-management behaviors were collected using an online survey. Semi-structured video interviews were conducted following an iterative interview guide. A codebook directed inductive coding. QSR NVivo Version 12 software was used to organize the data. Results12 AYAs with CF were enrolled (25% female, 25% Black AYA, 33% Hispanic/Latina/o AYA, 50% White AYA; mean age 20.8 years). Three themes were identified: independent care of the whole self, preparing for change and the unknown and transition experiences vary. ConclusionsNot all participants experienced a smooth transition. Participants identified suggestions for the development of transition preparation interventions, specifically around involving AYAs in transition decisions and beginning transition preparation early in adolescence. Practice implicationsParticipants expressed uncertainty about transition when they felt little control over the process or lacked sufficient information about adult care. Therefore, comprehensive early transition preparation for all AYAs with CF with a focus on involving AYAs in transition decisions is recommended.

Lonely, harassed and abandoned in society: the lived experiences of Iranian homeless youth

IntroductionHomelessness is increasing among young adults in large cities. According to the United Nations, there are more than one billion absolute or relative homeless people in the world. This study was conducted to explain the lived experiences of homeless youth in southeastern Iran.Materials and methodsIn this qualitative study, we recruited 13 participants in a big city, southeast Iran, in 2020. The participant was young homeless adults aged 18–29 years who were using homeless shelters provided by the municipality, sleeping in parks or on streets. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions. Data were analyzed by conventional qualitative content analysis.ResultsThe main category of “lonely, annoyed, and abandoned in society” and three subcategories of avoidance of/by society, comprehensive harassment, and lack of comprehensive support were extracted. The experiences of young homeless adults showed that they escaped from the community due to addiction, feeling like a burden to others, and social isolation, and not only have they been left without support in society, but they have also suffered from all kinds of physical and psychological harassments.ConclusionThe lived experiences of homeless people show that in addition to appropriate facilities and living conditions, they require respect, reduced social stigma, discrimination, and favorable conditions for a return to life. Therefore, authorities should identify and settle their problems and needs.

Transitioning to independent living: Experiences of homeless young adults in rapid rehousing

Rapid rehousing (RRH) is an intervention that is being adopted nationally to assist adolescents and emerging adults who are homeless. RRH provides short-term rental assistance for independent scattered-site housing, in addition to an array of support services for approximately 12–24 months. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of young adults (18–23 years old) who had previously been homeless and who were enrolled in RRH programs set in two urban Northeastern cities, and their subsequent preparedness for independent living. Our sample mostly consisted of non-Hispanic Black females, many of whom identified as LGBTQ. Semi-structured interviews (n = 15) were conducted after participants had been in the program for nine months - three months prior to their initial program completion date. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: the importance of tangible support, communication among all parties: staff lead the way, and “I gotta start learning to do it on my own”. These domains provided essential assistance for young people to attain their goals and through this process they learned skills to live independently and transition into adulthood. These findings suggest that rapid rehousing programs and service providers should focus on these domains to facilitate successful transition to independent living for this population.

Living in an online world: Social media experiences of adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Despite widespread use, little is known about how adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer use social media (SM). This research characterized use and self-reported SM experiences among AYA with cancer. AYA, aged 12-26 years, receiving cancer care completed a mixed-methods survey regarding SM experiences. Clinical information was obtained from the electronic medical record. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t tests, and qualitative content analysis. Thirty-nine AYA with average age 16 (SD=3.2) years participated.Most were Caucasian (92%) males (54%). Participants had leukemia/lymphoma (56%), solid tumors (33%), and brain tumors (10%). Nearly all (97%) used SM, with YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram being the most popular. AYA self-reported lower SM use than their smartphone data indicated (2.8hours/day, SD=1.2 vs 3.4hours/day, SD=1.3; P<0.001). Participants used SM to obtain information about their cancer (45%), post about cancer (47%), and read about others' cancer experience (50%). One-third made a friend with cancer through SM (32%). Qualitative results indicated that AYA had positive cancer-related SM experiences, including feelings of support (54%), community (27%), distraction (8%), and inspiration (8%). Most denied negative experiences (78%); however, 17% reported cyberbullying related to cancer. AYA with cancer avidly use SM, noting it provides a sense of support and community. However, one-sixth reported cancer-related cyberbullying. AYA oncology providers have an opportunity to enhance positive and blunt negative SM interactions by addressing and guiding SM use in AYA patients.

“I can control what I do with my daily life”: Occupational experiences of adolescents and young adults with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome

ABSTRACT Objective: This qualitative study sought to explore the experiences of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), an inherited cancer predisposition syndrome, through an occupational lens. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 AYAs with LFS. Inductive analysis was used to code for themes and patterns related to occupation and well-being. Grounded theory and interpretive descriptive frameworks informed data analysis. Results: Occupational loss was common, but positive shifts in occupation were also reported. Occupations delivered therapeutic value for participants in several ways, including providing positive distraction. Participants reported a desire to maintain normal occupations despite LFS. Conclusion: AYAs with LFS may benefit from a focus on finding positive meaning in chronic illness, exploring shifts in occupation based on health status, and identifying occupations that can provide distraction and emotional relief from the challenging process of lifelong cancer screening and treatment.

The Moderating Role of the FKBP5 Gene Polymorphisms in the Relationship between Attachment Style, Perceived Stress and Psychotic-like Experiences in Non-Clinical Young Adults.

Numerous studies have reported that stressful life experiences increase the risk of psychosis and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). Common variations of the FKBP5 gene have been reported to impact the risk of psychosis by moderating the effects of environmental exposures. Moreover, anxious and avoidant attachment styles have been shown to increase both the level of perceived stress and the risk for psychosis development. In the present cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate whether variants of the FKBP5 gene moderate the effects of attachment styles and the level of perceived stress on the development of PLEs. A total of 535 non-clinical undergraduates were genotyped for six FKBP5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3800373, rs9470080, rs4713902, rs737054, rs1360780 and rs9296158). The Psychosis Attachment Measure (PAM), the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) and the Prodromal Questionnaire 16 (PQ-16) were administered to assess attachment styles, the level of perceived stress and PLEs, respectively. Anxious attachment style, lower levels of perceived self-efficacy and higher levels of perceived helplessness were associated with a significantly higher number of PLEs. The main effects of attachment style on the severity of PLEs were significant in models testing for the associations with perceived self-efficacy and three FKBP5 SNPs (rs1360780, rs9296158 and rs9470080). The main effect of rs38003733 on the number of PLEs was observed, with GG homozygotes reporting a significantly higher number of PLEs in comparison to T allele carriers. In individuals with dominant anxious attachment style, there was a significant effect of the interaction between the FKBP5 rs4713902 SNP and self-efficacy on the severity of PLEs. Among rs4713902 TT homozygotes, a low level of perceived self-efficacy was associated with higher severity of PLEs. In subjects with non-dominant anxious attachment, a low level of perceived self-efficacy was associated with a higher number of PLEs, regardless of the genotype. Our results indicate that the FKBP5 gene might moderate the relationship between attachment, perceived stress and PLEs.

200. “No one has ever asked me about this”: Results From an EMA Diary Feasibility Study to Understand Daily Incontinence Experiences in Adolescents and Young Adults With Spina Bifida

Increased survival time means that adolescents and young adults with spina bifida (AYA-SB) must learn to manage common spina bifida (SB) associated health conditions, including urinary (UI) and fecal (FI) incontinence, as they move into adulthood. We conducted the first ecological momentary assessment-focused (EMA) study to assess the daily occurrence and impact of incontinence among AYA-SB.

Surgical experiences in adolescents and young adults with differences of sex development: A qualitative examination

Surgical intervention in youth with differences of sex development (DSD) is a controversial topic. Historically, evidence suggests that genital surgery in DSD is associated with mixed patient satisfaction. However, less is known about surgical outcomes under therapeutic advancements in the past several decades. The purpose of the current study is to provide an updated and empirical qualitative examination of the surgical experiences and responses to care of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with DSD in order to fill this gap in the literature and inform patient care. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 37 AYA (ages 12-26) with DSD. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically. Three major themes were identified: 1) knowledge related to surgery; 2) surgical and medical experience; and 3) psychosocial factors related to surgery. Results demonstrated that most AYA were not involved in the decision to pursue surgery and were observed to have varying levels of knowledge regarding their surgeries. Most participants in the current study had received a DSD-related surgery and the majority described having positive surgical experiences and few regrets. Nonetheless, AYA described both medical and psychosocial challenges related to their surgeries and recoveries and offered feedback on ways to improve the surgical process. The current study provides a qualitative examination of the surgical experiences of 37 AYA with DSD. Findings highlight the importance of regular and ongoing communication with providers to improve knowledge related to surgery during the decision-making process as well as after surgical intervention. Results underscore the benefits of multidisciplinary teams and the value of patient handouts and decision aids in assisting AYA in the decision to pursue surgical intervention. Other specific recommendations for providers include increased patient privacy during genital exams, greater emphasis on psychoeducation and pain management strategies, and the use of behavioral health services to assist with challenges and social support. The decision to pursue surgical intervention in youth with DSD remains a complex and controversial issue, and more information regarding patients' perspectives on surgery is needed. The current study provides novel insights into patient experiences of surgical intervention and highlights the need for psychosocial support throughout the shared decision-making process.

An exploratory study of the retrospective educational experiences of young intersex adults

AimWhile there is increasing awareness of best practice in LGBT-inclusive education, little is known about the specific educational issues facing intersex individuals, and how the education system could be improved for this marginalised group.MethodThis paper reports an empirical study involving semi-structured interviews with two young intersex adults, to understand their retrospective, lived educational experiences and ascertain their views on improving educational practice around intersex issues.FindingsRelevant themes identified were knowledge and understanding, impact of diagnosis, information sharing, journey of identity acceptance, protective factors, and wellbeing.ImplicationsRecommendations are made regarding how schools and professionals might support intersex children and young people during their education.