Young People's Intentions Research Articles

WOMEN AS SECONDARY EARNERS

This paper addresses the issue of the gender gap in young people's work preferences and intentions within the context of changing gender relations in urban Indonesia. A survey of senior university students in Jakarta and Makassar in 2004 provided evidence on the interplay between labour market and marriage role preferences among the young educated elite in Indonesia (n = 1761). Along with ongoing demographic transitions and socio-economic change, the study hypothesised that shifting gender norms have created a preference for a more egalitarian, dual-earner marriage among the target population. However, findings indicate that neo-traditional ideals placing men as the breadwinner and women as secondary earners are widely prevalent. Qualitative insights highlight how the universality of marriage and having children entail women to assume a role to satisfy increasing economic needs without relegating their noble role to maintain family harmony.

Young people's mental health first aid intentions and beliefs prospectively predict their actions: Findings from an Australian National Survey of Youth

Little is known about whether mental health first aid knowledge and beliefs of young people actually translate into actual behavior. This study examined whether young people's first aid intentions and beliefs predicted the actions they later took to help a close friend or family member with a mental health problem. Participants in a 2006 national survey of Australian youth (aged 12–25years) reported on their first aid intentions and beliefs based on one of four vignettes: depression, depression with alcohol misuse, psychosis, and social phobia. At a two-year follow-up interview, they reported on actions they had taken to help any family member or close friend with a problem similar to the vignette character since the initial interview. Of the 2005 participants interviewed at follow-up, 608 reported knowing someone with a similar problem. Overall, young people's first aid intentions and beliefs about the helpfulness of particular first aid actions predicted the actions they actually took to assist a close other. However, the belief in and intention to encourage professional help did not predict subsequent action. Findings suggest that young people's mental health first aid intentions and beliefs may be valid indicators of their subsequent actions.

Intentions and helpfulness beliefs about first aid responses for young people with mental disorders: Findings from two Australian national surveys of youth

Youths are important sources of first aid for people close to them who are experiencing mental health problems, but their skills are not optimal. A better understanding of predictors of young people's first aid intentions and beliefs will facilitate future efforts to improve their mental health first aid skills. Young people's first aid intentions and beliefs were assessed by a national telephone survey of 3746 Australian youth aged 12-25 years in 2006. A similar survey was repeated in 2011 with 3021 youths aged 15-25 years. In both surveys, youths were presented with a vignette portraying depression, psychosis, social phobia, or depression with alcohol misuse in a young person. The 2011 survey also included depression with suicidal thoughts and post-traumatic stress disorder. Respondents reported on any past-year experience of mental health problems and treatment, exposure to beyondblue and mental health information at school or work. The potential value of encouraging professional treatment was not universally recognized, although young people were mostly aware of and reported the intention to take supportive actions. Respondent age, sex, experience of mental health problems, type of mental disorder, and exposure to mental health information at school, work, or beyondblue all predicted some intentions and beliefs. Some improvements in beliefs were observed between surveys. Actual first aid actions and their helpfulness were not measured. Future efforts should target adolescents, males and those with recent mental health problems who had not received help. Beyondblue and school and work settings may be promising avenues for these efforts.

P1-129 The importance of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS education program for young people in Papua and West Papua Provinces, Indonesia

IntroductionPapua and West Papua Provinces have the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in Indonesia. In 2009, 94.4% HIV/AIDS cases in Papua Province were transmitted through heterosexual intercourse and the cases among 15–19...

The influence of stigma on young people’s help-seeking intentions and beliefs about the helpfulness of various sources of help

In this study, we examined whether young people's help-seeking intentions and beliefs about the helpfulness of various sources of help are influenced by their own, and their parents' stigmatising attitudes towards young people with mental disorders. A national telephone survey was conducted with 3,746 Australians aged 12-25 years and 2,005 of their parents. Stigmatising attitudes, help-seeking intentions, and perceived helpfulness of various sources of help were assessed in relation to four vignettes of a young person with a mental disorder (psychosis, depression, depression with alcohol misuse or social phobia). Unlike 'stigma perceived in others', the 'weak-not-sick', 'social distance' and 'dangerous/unpredictable' dimensions of young people's stigma were associated with both help-seeking intentions and helpfulness beliefs about various sources of help. Attributing mental disorder to a personal weakness rather than an illness was associated with less intention to seek help from a doctor and less positive beliefs about professional sources (including doctors, counsellors, and psychologists). In contrast, young adults aged 18-25 years who perceived the vignette character as more dangerous or unpredictable had greater intention to seek help from a psychiatrist and a helpline, and more positive beliefs about psychiatrists. Greater social distance was associated with less intention to seek help from informal sources and less positive beliefs about these sources. No consistent pattern of associations was found for parent stigma. The findings suggest that different dimensions of youth stigma differentially influence help-seeking intentions and beliefs about the helpfulness of different sources of help.

Young people's intentions about their political activity

We discuss some implications for citizenship education, based on a survey of young people in four European countries in which they were asked how they think they will act politically when they are adult. The empirical sections of the article are based on a survey of 2,400 students aged between 11–17 in 2008–2009 in Poland, Spain, Turkey and England. This study is discussed within the broader context of a widespread concern about a so-called 'democratic deficit', and in particular about the political apathy of youth. We suggest that young people appear to intend to act in very similar ways as adults do. We raise questions about expectations of political activity, especially concerning particular kinds of political behaviour, about young people's own intentions, and about what might be an appropriate educational response to these intentions.

Contact, Anxiety, and Young People's Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions Towards the Elderly

The populations of many nations are aging rapidly. This trend is happening against a background of research indicating that ageism is the most commonly experienced form of prejudice. The present research used intergroup contact theory as a framework to explore young people's attitudes and behavioral intentions towards the elderly. Regression analyses confirmed that quality but not frequency of intergenerational contact was positively associated with young people's attitudes and behavioral intentions towards the elderly. These associations were mediated by intergroup anxiety, whereas aging anxiety did not have a mediational role. Discussion focuses on the importance of the findings for strategies aimed at tackling ageism.

Invulnerability and the intention to drink and drive: An application of the theory of planned behavior

The present study aims at an examination, based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), of the psychological antecedents of young Chinese people's intentions to drive after drinking. One hundred and twenty-four licensed drivers (aged from 19 to 35 years) successfully completed an online questionnaire. Using path analysis, we found the most proximal predictors of intention to be attitudes and perceived behavioral control, whereas invulnerability as well as subjective norms indirectly influenced intention by promoting favorable attitudes toward and greater perceived behavioral control over driving after alcohol use. The total explained variances in the intention to drink and drive reached 79%. The present findings highlight irrational beliefs of invulnerability and the three TPB components as potentially valid targets for prevention and intervention efforts against drinking and driving among young Chinese drivers.

Texting while driving: Psychosocial influences on young people's texting intentions and behaviour

Despite the dangers and illegality, there is a continued prevalence of texting while driving amongst young Australian drivers. The present study tested an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to predict young drivers’ (17–24 years) intentions to [1] send and [2] read text messages while driving. Participants ( n = 169 university students) completed measures of attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, intentions, and the additional social influence measures of group norm and moral norm. One week later, participants reported on the number of texts sent and read while driving in the previous week. Attitude predicted intentions to both send and read texts while driving, and subjective norm and perceived behavioural control determined sending, but not reading, intentions. Further, intention, but not perceptions of control, predicted both texting behaviours 1 week later. In addition, both group norm and moral norm added predictive ability to the model. These findings provide support for the TPB in understanding students’ decisions to text while driving as well as the inclusion of additional normative influences within this context, suggesting that a multi-strategy approach is likely to be useful in attempts to reduce the incidence of these risky driving behaviours.

Magazine Reading and Involvement and Young Adults' Sexual Health Knowledge, Efficacy, and Behaviors

These studies investigate connections between magazine reading and involvement and young people's sexual health knowledge, self-efficacy, intentions, and contraception use. Study 1 assessed sexual health behaviors and magazine reading among 579 undergraduate students (69% were female; 68% were White; Mage = 19.73). As expected, more frequent reading of mainstream magazines was associated with greater sexual health knowledge, safe-sex self-efficacy, and consistency of using contraception, although results varied across sex and magazine genre. Study 2 replicated and expanded on these findings with a survey of 422 undergraduate students (51% were female; 71% were White; 49% were age 18 or younger), incorporating a more extensive knowledge scale, questions about safe-sex intentions, and measures of magazine involvement. Results suggest that magazine use is associated with positive sexual health outcomes among young people.

Young people's intended civic and political participation: does education matter?

Citizenship education was introduced as a statutory subject in England in September 2002 with the aim of promoting civic and political engagement. However, whilst education is undoubtedly a powerful socialisation force, it is not the only factor that is likely to influence young people's civic and political participation. Political science theories regarding adult participation highlight the role of variables such as socio-economic background, political efficacy, individuals’ assessments of the costs and benefits of participation and interest in politics. The questions therefore arise as to how much citizenship education can influence young people's participation above and beyond these other factors and whether this is more likely if a school adopts a particular approach to the subject's delivery. To answer these questions, this paper draws on data from the nine-year Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study (CELS), and more particularly from its 2004–05 survey of 13,646 English students aged 13–14. Structural equation modelling is used to examine students’ intentions to participate and ascertain the relative contribution that education and other factors make to young people's intentions to participate.

Testing an extended theory of planned behaviour to predict young people's sun safety in a high risk area

The present research examined the sun protection intentions and behaviours of young people in a high risk skin cancer area using an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) incorporating additional social influences of group and image norms. The study employed a prospective design to examine young people's sun protection intentions and behaviour. Participants (N=1,134), aged 12-20 years, were students (school, university, TAFE) and young employees living in Queensland, Australia. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing the TPB predictors (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control) and additional social influences (group norm, image norm) of sun protection intentions. Two weeks later, participants (N=734) reported their sun protection behaviour for the previous fortnight. Results revealed that the TPB variables of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control and the additional social influence variable of group norms, but not image norms, emerged as significant predictors of intentions to engage in sun protection. The extended TPB variables accounted for 36% of the variance in intentions. For behaviour, the extended TPB variables accounted for 27% of the variance with both intention and, unexpectedly, group norm as the significant direct predictors of sun protective behaviours. Results of this study provide support for the application of the TPB in the sun safety context and highlight the importance of considering the influence of group norms in the development of future interventions to increase young people's sun protection intentions and behaviour.

Eager to Leave? Intentions to Migrate Abroad among Young People in Kyrgyzstan

This study examines young people's intentions to migrate abroad in Kyrgyzstan, focusing in particular on differences between Asian and European-origin ethnic groups. The multivariate analyses of recent survey data show that even after controlling for socioeconomic characteristics and social embeddedness Europeans are significantly more inclined to migrate than Asians. Whereas no gender differences in migration intentions among either group are detected, marriage, childbearing, and social capital exhibit distinct ethnic-specific effects. Although economic considerations are prevailing stimuli for migration in both groups, the results point to the formation of two dominant ethnic-specific migration preference types – for temporary migration among Asians and permanent migration among Europeans.

A Cross-Cultural Study of the Influence of Perceived Positive Outcomes on Participation in Regular Active Recreation: Hong Kong and Australian University Students

This study examined the ways that perceptions of positive outcomes of engagement in regular active recreation influence engagement interest, engagement intentions and subsequent engagement in regular active recreation in the two contrasting cultures of Hong Kong and Australia. A total of 927 Hong Kong and 1,018 Australian university students completed survey questionnaires. Findings from the study indicated that having an interest in the activities was an important condition that led to enduring engagement in active recreation. Beliefs about physiological benefits of active recreation had no significant impact on young people's engagement interest, intention, and actual engagement. Perception of affective outcomes was an important motivator for Australian but not for Hong Kong students. Perceptions of psychological outcomes was an important predictor only for Hong Kong students. The findings suggested that cultural values and social, physical, and leisure environments could moderate the cognitive processes that underlie engagement in regular active recreation.

Young people's intentions and use of condoms: Qualitative findings from a longitudinal study

Objective The main objective of this project was to explore some of the processes that facilitate and also hinder the consistent use of condoms among young people. Design A longitudinal design was used, recording young people's intentions to use condoms on the occasion of first intercourse with a new partner at round 1, followed by their 'actual' reported behaviours at round 2 (six to 10 months later). Setting Young people's clinics, youth clubs and youth advisory centres in the Southampton Community Health National Health Service (NHS) Trust in Southern England. Method One-to-one in-depth interviews at both round 1 and round 2. Results Twenty-two young men and women aged 16 to 19 were interviewed at both round 1 and round 2. The matching of intentions, expectations and behaviours revealed six patterns of condom use/non use, each with distinct cognitive and interactional characteristics. Conclusion Implications for those personnel and agencies responsible for promoting sexual health are introduced (subject to more generalisable research) and which are based on the attributes of 'successful' condom users.

The influence of self-efficacy and past behaviour on the physical activity intentions of young people

The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of self-efficacy and past behaviour on young people's physical activity intentions using an augmented version of Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behaviour. We hypothesized that self-efficacy would exhibit discriminant validity with perceived behavioural control and explain unique variance in young people's intentions to participate in physical activity. We also expected that past physical activity behaviour would attenuate the influence of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and self-efficacy on intention. The sample comprised 1152 young people aged 13.5 - 0.6 years (mean - s ) who completed inventories assessing their physical activity intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, self-efficacy and past physical activity behaviour. A confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour achieved discriminant validity. Furthermore, the measures of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and self-efficacy were significantly related to their respective belief-based measures, supporting the concurrent validity of the measures of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. A non-standard structural equation model demonstrated that attitude and self-efficacy were strong predictors of physical activity intention, but perceived behavioural control and subjective norms were not. Self-efficacy attenuated the influence of attitudes and perceived behavioural control on intention. Past behaviour predicted intention directly and indirectly through self-efficacy and attitude. The present findings demonstrate that young people with positive attitudes and high self-efficacy are more likely to form intentions to participate in physical activity. Furthermore, controlling for past physical activity behaviour revealed that the unique effects of self-efficacy and attitudes on young people's physical activity intentions were unaltered.

An empirical investigation as to the need for multicomponent decision models

The adequacy of an exclusively attitudinal component model, which is analogous to the traditional decision-theoretic model, in which each option is scored and weighted on multiple attributes, is investigated. The results indicate that a purely attitudinal model is inadequate when predicting the career intentions of young people. This conclusion holds, irrespective of how the relative weights used in the attitudinal component model are measured. It is shown that an adequate model must include normative (i.e., judgments of others' beliefs) and affective (i.e., emotional) components in addition to the attitudinal component. Although decision-theoretic models can readily be expanded to include the normative component by including attributes that represent judgments of others' beliefs about alternative actions, it is not clear how to include a global affective component.