Youth Identity Formation Research Articles

Do Ethnic Identity, Familial, and Community Contexts Impact the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychopathology Among Latinx Adolescents?

Few studies have explored the interplay of how individual identity, parental, familial, and contextual factors impact associations between Latinx adolescent adversities and psychopathology. This study aimed to examine whether these factors mediate the relationship between adversities and psychopathology in Latinx youth. Latinx youth (n= 2,411) data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study were used to examine path models with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as the predictor and either youth- or caregiver-rated internalizing/externalizing scores over 4 timepoints as the outcome (ages 9-13 years). Models examined 3 potential mediators: (1) ethnic identity, (2) familial context (comprising parental monitoring, family conflict, and caregiver acceptance), and (3) community cohesion. Models were conducted separately for internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Greater adversity was associated with greater youth- and caregiver-rated internalizing/externalizing psychopathology over time. Greater adversity was associated with lower family functioning and lower ethnic identity, and greater family functioning was associated with lower psychopathology. Family functioning mediated associations between adversity and psychopathology over time (youth-reported internalizing: 95% CI= 0.012-0.019; youth-reported externalizing: 95% CI= 0.020-0.028). In contrast, there was not strong evidence for ethnic identity and community cohesion mediating associations between adversities and psychopathology over time. Unlike previous studies, ethnic identity did not influence the relationship between ACEs and psychopathology over time. Additional research is needed to identify whether possible tensions rise as Latinx youth acculturate into US culture and achieve optimal levels of ethnic identity formation. Providers need to assess specific Latinx parental and familial contexts that may interfere with youth identity formation.

Mediatization of Religion and Its Impact on Youth Identity Formation in Contemporary China

In response to the trend of information technology development, religions in China are undergoing a process of mediatization. This study takes the popular Chinese animated films Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child (哪吒之魔童降世) (2019) and New Gods: Yang Jian (新神榜: 杨戬) (2022) as research cases of mediatization of religion and conducts a focused study of the respective protagonists Ne Zha (哪吒) and Yang Jian (杨戬), both prominent figures in Chinese religious and folk traditions. Through text analysis and empirical research on the two movies and their fans, this study examines how religion is being mediatized in contemporary China in the transformation to Religion 2.0 or a type of amalgamation of real- and virtual-world practices that enact a relationship with the divine, and how this shapes identity formation for fans, who are mostly young individuals in their teens and twenties. This research argues that to obtain permission for dissemination in mainstream media and thrive in the cultural context of China, religion chooses to assume the form of media products that can bypass scrutiny that forbids “supernatural phenomena” and aligns with the mainstream ideology. It has to be a “contributory religion” that contributes to the “revitalization” of national spirit and inherited Chinese culture, not a potential “superstitious” threat to the Marxist orthodoxy. In the context of official promotion of atheism and the regulation of public discourse, animated films with themes adapted from traditional mythological and religious stories, such as Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child and New Gods: Yang Jian, have become a major cultural form through which people in China engage with religious symbols and narratives. The enormous success of the two movies resulted in a large population of young fans. Influenced by these films, their fans have developed an egoistic religious perspective rather than assimilating the religious or cultural messages contained in the movies. These fans may experience solace and a call to faith to some extent in their consumption of the movies, but they selectively enhance religious literacy that only meets their personal needs. Interest in divine individuals far outweighs interest in or loyalty to the religious doctrine or sect itself. Pilgrimages are undertaken to fulfill personal fantasies, and the promotion of the divine is aimed at vying for influence within fan communities. The second part of this study examines the activities of the fans that I argue are characteristic of the age of Religion 2.0.

Rooted in Tradition, Shaped by Experience: Exploring Identity Formation in Youth Raised Within 'Gonyalelwa Lapa'

Rooted in Tradition, Shaped by Experience: Exploring Identity Formation in Youth Raised Within 'Gonyalelwa Lapa'

Socio-anthropological exploration of Saudi youth identity formation in domestic and social spaces

This comprehensive research examines the formation of social identity among Saudi youth within the domains of bedrooms, homes, and Istiraha, a traditional communal gathering space. Drawing inspiration from Western studies on room culture and societal dynamics, the primary objective of this research is to scrutinize the socio-cultural transformations occurring within Saudi society, as reflected in the interactions of its youth in these distinct spaces. Departing from the conventional functional and moralistic framing of Saudi youth as social issues, this study adopts a socio-anthropological perspective. It perceives young individuals as active agents in the process of shaping their identities within a unique cultural milieu, employing a descriptive-analytical methodology. Fieldwork was conducted in late 2022, involving the administration of questionnaires to a randomly selected sample of 384 students at the University of Hail, Saudi Arabia, in addition to focus group discussions with 37 students. These methods were utilized to explore students' perceptions, activities, and attitudes within the specific social environments under investigation. The study's findings reveal that Saudi youth employ their bedrooms, homes, and Istiraha spaces to delineate their identities through three distinct social strategies: Autonomy, Reproduction, and Integration. Additionally, this research uncovers a gender-based distinction in the prevalence of room culture among the youth, contrary to Western findings. Istiraha, as an ancient cultural tradition, assumes a significant role as a gathering space for Saudi youth, affording them an opportunity to distance themselves from societal and familial constraints. In light of these discoveries, this research recommends an expansion of studies concerning the anthropology of spaces and social milieus in relation to the ongoing social transformations in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, it suggests an examination of room culture and Istiraha culture among Saudi youth from the perspective of their parents to gain insights into how these phenomena are perceived, their attitudes towards them, and the resulting behaviors. This exploration can illuminate aspects of generational continuity and disruption within the Saudi social fabric.

A Corporate Mentoring Program Cross-Cultural Experience and the Impact on Self-Identity for Students From an Urban Community

Cross-cultural mentoring can lead to personal development through experiencing cultural differences that cultivate individual virtues and values. Culture is an aspect of self-identity. Self-identity for adolescents is important for their long-term development. This study examines a corporate mentoring program that offers a cross-cultural experience for participants. It aimed to determine if the mentoring program influenced participants’ self-identity and if there was a correlation between culture and their self-identity. The study was guided by identity control theory. A 10-question Likert scale survey was administered to the 20 urban high school students at the completion of their mentoring program for the academic year, which included nine sessions. The study found that the corporate mentoring program did impact the self-identity of urban youth; however, there was no correlation between the cross-cultural experience and their self-identity. This finding adds to the research on youth identity formation. Further research is needed on how different cultural influences may contribute to youth identity formation.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SURVIVAL AND THE ART OF WINNING IN WAR

During the war that is currently in Ukraine, the role of a psychologist is difficult to overestimate. The articles are devoted to the study of the peculiarities of survival psychology and the art of victory in the war. The purpose of the article is to analyze the sources, to characterize the modern interpretation of the theory of survival and victory during the war, not only in the psychological and pedagogical, but also in the cultural and philosophical aspect. Realizing the purpose of the study, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: to update the essential features of the history of the culture of survival in the psychological sense; consider the art of victory from the standpoint of the theory of methods of pedagogy and psychology. Basic research methods include historical and comparative methods, methods of generalization and interpretation of the findings of different authors, retrospective and comparative analysis. With the purpose of spirituality formation of the personality of young people we have proposed: the concept of "spiritual personality"; the author's psychological structure of spiritual personality; the author's model of spiritual identity formation of youth; the training programme of development of spirituality of the individual; thematic plan of the special discipline "psychology of the formation of spirituality of the personality"; criteria for the development of spirituality of the individual; the sources of the personal spirituality. Comparison of the distribution of students' spirituality levels "before" and "after" the implementation of the program of spiritual formation of personality "was carried out. The comparison has confirmed the need to implement a program of spiritual formation of personality for young people, especially during the war.

Building identity and authenticity: exploring the spatiotemporal aspects of language teaching in a mariachi class

ABSTRACT This article investigates the language practices of a bilingual mariachi instructor teaching mariachi music to Latinx English dominant students. This ethnographic study draws on the concept of chronotope (Bakhtin 1981) to explore the spatiotemporal aspects of learning, particularly in terms of the teachers’ selective use of language correction strategies when teaching students to sing mariachi music. I argue that the mariachi, its symbolism, and the lyrics are chronotopic because they come from an ‘epic time’ in Mexico and the image and ideology of the charro is currently a global symbol of Mexicanness. Analysis of data shows that when teaching mariachi lyrics specifically, the instructor chronotopically frames the pronunciation of the song lyrics as iconic and requiring specific forms of Spanish. Findings suggest that the instructor focuses on a mariachi identity that, while it does not require fluency in Spanish, does demand language to be used in a particular iconic way (i.e. Mexican accented Spanish) to evoke the past and perpetuate the symbolism of lo mexicano, which is vital to the identity formation of Mexican origin youth. This chronotopic lens allow us to explain why in heritage language learning spaces some linguistic changes can be accepted while others may be sanctioned.

ПОЛИТИКА ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ ГРАЖДАНСКОЙ ИДЕНТИЧНОСТИ МОЛОДЕЖИ В НОВЫХ СУБЪЕКТАХ РФ: МОДЕЛИ И ТЕХНОЛОГИИ

The paper presents an analysis of models and technologies that form the civic identity of young people in the new subjects of the Russian Federation (the Republic of Crimea, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics). The empirical object of the study was middle and high school students representing these regions. The methodology of the empirical study of schoolchildren’s civic identity formation is based on a combination of focus group research and expert survey. In the course of our research, we analyzed the opinions of experts representing various sectors of the education and youth policy system, state institutions, public organizations, and movements in the new constituent entities of Russia. These opinions pertained to the activities of youth policy institutions, the education system, the cultural system, and civil society actors (public organizations and movements, mass media, and political parties). Our objective was to ascertain the role of these institutions and actors in the formation of civic identity. Consequently, have we identified a complex of technologies for the policy of civic identity formation of school-age youth in the new subjects of the Russian Federation. These include the subjects of identity formation, the methods and forms of translation, the degree of novelty, the functions, and the content component of the civic identity that is formed. Furthermore, we have identified the specific empirical forms (convergent and divergent) and the practices of implementing this model in the new subjects of the Russian Federation. It is shown that the fundamental differentiating factor of the aforementioned empirical models of forming schoolchildren’s civic identity in the new subjects is the sociocultural factor, which is conditioned by the influence of the system of political socialization. It is evident that the current state and formats of implementing the policy of forming schoolchildren’s civic identity in the new territories are inadequate in their consideration of the existing differentiation of actual identities.

Проблематизация исследовательского поля поколения Z

The article outlines the research problems associated with the study of generation Z based on the problematization procedure. Problematization makes it possible to question established ideas and offer new perspectives of research. The author proposes to analyze the generation Z in the context of several concepts. 1. A.O. Hirschman's «voice–exit–loyalty" (EVL) concept and its extended version «voice–exit–loyalty–neglect» (EVLN). For these studies, we apply the tools of game theory. The question is raised about the admissibility of considering youth as a social group as an actor of the game. 2. Concepts about the demographic causes of protests related to the growth of the share of young people, the slowdown of social elevators. Within the framework of these concepts, work on the study of interaction and conversion of online and offline activity seems promising. 3. Concepts of identity and post-materialistic values of youth. Particular attention should be paid to the problems of ageism, digital and intergenerational gaps in modern conditions. It is suggested that the trends in the formation of youth identities are different in different civilizations.

Beyond Systems of Oppression: The Syndemic Affecting Black Youth in the US.

Adolescence is a challenging time fraught with developmental changes that influence sociocultural identity, psychosocial and biological development. Integrating a sense of ethnic identity into one’s personal identity is an important task for Black youth during this developmental stage as it impacts aspirations, ideology, and interpersonal identity. Black youth are not only navigating this critical stage but doing so while traversing issues related to a syndemic of injustice rooted in anti-Black racism that permeates the very fabric of our society. This manuscript describes the syndemic of injustice framework as it relates to the ways in which anti-Black racism contributes to experiences of structural, symbolic and interpersonal violence for Black youth and how these experiences of violent oppression ultimately influence the developmental processes involved in identity formation for Black youth. Implications for social work practice are discussed.

Refugee youth identity formation at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district, Malawi

ABSTRACT This study inquired into the nature of identity among refugee youth living at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. Aged between eighteen and twenty-four, the sample comprised of twenty-two female (m = 20.18, sd = 1.89) and thirty-eight male (m = 21.68, sd = 1.92) participants, from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Somalia. The study hypothesized that the organizing structure of education and its related experiences fostered identity formation for the youth. The questions asked were: 1. How do long-term refugee youth at the camp construct identity? 2. How does the process of identity formation facilitate the youth’s socialization within the camp? The study used the inductive analytical approach of interpretive description. The methods of data collection were in-depth qualitative interviews, participant observations and fieldnotes. Findings from the study demonstrated how the participants filtered their identity formation vis-à-vis concepts of education, resulting in two categories: liminal and aspirational identities.

Music and Youth Identity Formation in the 21st Century: A Sociological Analysis into Global Metal and K-pop Identities in a Cosmopolitan World

Music and Youth Identity Formation in the 21st Century: A Sociological Analysis into Global Metal and K-pop Identities in a Cosmopolitan World

Muslim YouTubers in Turkey and the Authoritarian Male Gaze on YouTube

The increased digitalization in today’s world, including social interactions online, as well as digital practices and performances, has a significant impact on the identity formation of youth and reflects their self-representation in society and the global world. This article examines how gender identities shape online representations of religious youth in Turkey. To this end, this study particularly focuses on young Muslim YouTubers whose religious identity appears either as a part of their images (i.e., veiled women/hijabi YouTubers) or through the contents they create (Muslim male YouTubers). Presenting similarities and divergences between online representations of Muslim YouTubers, this study sheds light on how Muslim youth express religiosity as a part of their online identities through the digital content they create. Furthermore, this analysis explores different modes of utilization of YouTube by young female and male Muslims as manifested through their videos. Following Schiffer’s categorization of the functionality of objects, I will argue that socialization and individuality are highly prioritized in the contents created by hijabi YouTubers. At the same time, an ideological and authoritarian perspective becomes prominent among the YouTube videos created by Muslim male YouTubers in Turkey.

44.4 UPLIFTING LATINES YOUTH TO OVERCOME THE IMPACT OF XENOPHOBIA AND RACISM ON THEIR RACIAL AND ETHNIC IDENTITIES

This presentation aims to provide an opportunity to learn about the history of xenophobia and racism against Latines in the United States, and to allow participants to gain a better understanding of how these experiences shape different aspects of Latine youth identity. Participants will also learn about cultural humility and competence as fundamental practices in working with Latines. We will present a brief overview on the history of xenophobia and racism against Latines in the United States, including a short video of the 2010 Medal of Freedom awardee, Sylvia Mendez, sharing her experience in the process of desegregating schools in California. Important constructs in the process of identity formation for Latine youth and the impact of discrimination and racism in this process will be explained. We will use selected clinical vignettes to illustrate this impact. To finalize, attendees will have the opportunity of engaging in an exercise to reflect on their own identity and understand the importance of cultural competence and humility when working with Latines. Discrimination and racism can be experienced by individuals that are identified as “Hispanic or Latino” in the United States. The history of xenophobia and racism against Latines in this country is best documented through the history of Mexican Americans in the Southwest. Thus, the historical review will primarily focus on this group, which continues to comprise the largest number of Latines in the country. Among Latines, it is important to understand the role of acculturation and acculturative stress in the process of identity formation, as experiences of discrimination and racism get internalized and impact youth mental health. Understanding this developmental process, as well as the historic and current experiences of marginalized groups, is critical to provide culture-centered and culture-affirming care. The practice of cultural humility and competence guides providers in this process and is essential in the therapeutic relationship with Latine youth. Xenophobia and racism have influenced Latine racial and ethnic identity formation since the 19th century, and the lingering political climate continues to reinforce this process. Child and adolescent psychiatrists have a critical role in uplifting marginalized youth and help heal intergenerational wounds.

Childhood in the age of digital culture

ABSTRACT For many, childhood is a time when they have a certain capacity to make independent choices and decisions. If socialized in communal spaces, children begin to create their own peer cultures. A lesser-discussed peer culture is the one that exists in the digital space. This paper investigates how the increased use of technology among youth impacts the creation of peer cultures online. Ideas and construction of the self will be explored through the mapping of youth identity formation online, an analysis of existing media literacy courses through the lens of Dewey’s educational theories, and the discussion of social media in Theatre for Youth productions supported by Nellie McCaslin’s writings on technology and children.

Local history role in the national identity formation of children and youth in the works of cultural and educational figures of Transcarpathia (the XIXth – the first half of the XXth century)

Local history role in the national identity formation of children and youth in the works of cultural and educational figures of Transcarpathia (the XIXth – the first half of the XXth century)

KONSTRUKSI IDENTITAS ANAK MUDA DI YOUTUBE

Masa muda merupakan tahap perkembangan yang paling unik, penuh dinamika serta problematika sepanjang rentang kehidupan manusia. Pada masa ini terjadi perubahan mendasar dari berbagai aspek, diantaranya biologis, kognitif hingga sosial. Anak muda yang hidup di era digital berusaha mencari jati dirinya melalui sosial media. Salah satunya adalah melalui YouTube. Sebuah fenomena yang menarik adalah munculnya konten-konten viral dengan judul “Kids Jaman Now. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat bagaimana identitas anak muda dikonstruksi melalui konten-konten “Kids Jaman Now” pada kanal YouTube Ecko Show dan Fikrifadlu. Peneliti menggunakan analisis tekstual yang bertujuan untuk mempermudah dalam memaknai teks sebagai realitas nyata yang mempunyai dan menghasilkan makna. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan sebagian besar konten tersebut mengarah pada pembentukan identitas anak muda yang negatif sebagai generasi narsis dan individualis, generasi hedonisme, menurunnya nilai moralitas dan munculnya fenomena LGBT.
 Kata Kunci: Anak Muda, Identitas, YouTube, Analisis Tekstual

Youth identity formation: (Mis)alignment between urban male youth and sport coaches

A critical process of healthy youth development is the formation of a positive sense of identity. An individual’s holistic identity is comprised of a variety of differing identities related their social group membership. Due to systemic racism and false stereotypes, urban youth – specifically African American/Black youth – are socially vulnerable and at-risk for the development of negative self-identities. Furthering this disparity, the mechanisms that contribute to the formation of youth identity are not well understood. The current study explored the mechanisms, from multiple perspectives, that contribute to youth identity formation across multiple domains. The study took place at a faith-based youth sport program designed for urban male youth, which used sport activities to facilitate conversations about faith and teach principles of healthy masculinity. In total, 14 youth and 10 coaches engaged in the study through individual semi-structured interviews. The majority of youth and coaches self-identified as Black/African American. Through two separate thematic analyses, findings demonstrate mechanisms that enhance or conflict with youth identity formation related to the domains of race/culture, faith, masculinity, and athletics. Further, areas of (mis)alignment between youth and coaches were recognized. For example, regarding race/culture, youth and coaches discussed the importance of popular culture and the negative influence of stereotypes. However, related to masculinity, youth discussed the positive influence of male family members, while coaches believed that the lack of male role models inhibited healthy masculinity. Using these findings, programs can be designed and facilitated to leverage positive mechanisms while mitigating negative factors that contribute to youth identity.

Youth, Work and ‘Career’ as a Way of Talking about the Self

This article develops research on youth and ‘career’ beyond a focus on attitudes towards employment flexibility and towards an examination of the ideological role of work in the formation of youth identities. The article draws on a programme of research on the formation of young people’s working identities, and presents interview data in which young people discuss the meaning of ‘career’ and the significance of work in general. These data show that across divergent aspirations and family histories of employment, young people define ‘career’ in terms of the promise of self-actualisation through labour, and thereby position work as the key site for self-expression and the cultivation of personal uniqueness. This article therefore suggests that the notion of ‘career’ is a way that the ‘post-Fordist work ethic’ is articulated on the level of youth identities, elevating self-realisation through labour as the goal of successful labour market engagement for youth.

Oriental Orthodox Young Adults and Liturgical Participation: A Matter of Identity

Abstract This qualitative research on young adults of the Armenian Apostolic and Syriac Orthodox Churches in Lebanon considers why participation in liturgy aids the identity formation of youth in both communities. By participating in liturgical rituals, these young adults express identities which transcend the limited spaces they inhabit. These spaces are influenced by the minority context in Lebanon, as well as by traumatic historic experiences of both Armenians and Syriacs. Such spaces stimulate the youths’ appreciation for their ancient traditions and their strong connection to other members of their church communities, both past and present. Their sense of belonging is rooted in ancient languages and narratives, and in the embodied rituals that open Armenian and Syriac young people up to the divine dimension of liturgy in church and in daily life. We argue that, for the research population, engagement in the liturgy is a matter of identity.