Support For Young People Research Articles

Analysis of parents’ needs regarding sexual and reproductive health issues of their children

Abstract Background Promoting sexual and reproductive health is a key intervention for young people’s health and well-being. Studies have shown that young people have a need to be supported by a strong network and that parents are considered an important source of information. The aim of our work was to understand the needs and critical issues parents face when raising the topic of sexual and reproductive health with their children in order to strengthen their skills and provide the best tools to support young people. Methods A qualitative focus group research methodology was used; a sexual psychologist facilitated the meetings. Parents of children attending secondary schools in Udine (Italy) in the 2022/2023 school year were invited to participate in the project. The meetings were recorded and transcribed verbatim by two independent researchers. Following an inductive method, recurring themes were extrapolated to represent the main categories and more specific subcategories. Results 46 parents participated in the focus group; 76% of them had no experience with sexual and affective education. Parents felt that sex education was useful in providing accurate information, preventing risks and promoting respect and relationships with others; however, there were concerns that the values taught were not consistent with those of the family. The topic was found to be difficult to discuss with children, both in terms of technical/scientific aspects and addressing issues such as gender identity and sexual orientation. Parents would like to understand what the right communication key is to discuss with their children in an atmosphere of trust. Conclusions Parents recognized the importance of the topic and saw the need to deepen some aspects, especially in terms of relationship and communication. The results of this work will be a useful starting point for the creation of ad hoc pathways aimed at parents to strengthen the relationship with their children. Key messages • Parents want to overcome difficulties by finding the right key to communicate with their children. • Supporting young people and their network to promote sexual and reproductive health is essential.

Co-Designing a Digital App to Support Young People's Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (VoiceIn): Development and Usability Study.

While patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) is now seen as a cornerstone of mental health research, young people's involvement in PPIE faces limitations. Work and school demands and more limited independence can make it challenging for young people to engage with PPIE. Lack of ability or desire to attend face-to-face meetings or group discussions can further compound this difficulty. The VoiceIn app and digital platform were codeveloped by a multidisciplinary team of young people, mental health researchers, and software designers, and enables young people to engage directly with PPIE opportunities via a mobile app. This paper aims to describe how VoiceIn was developed through a series of co-design workshops with relevant stakeholders, specifically (1) how the initial design of VoiceIn was informed and driven by focus groups with young people, mental health professionals, and PPIE leads; (2) how VoiceIn was refined through collaboration with the aforementioned stakeholders; (3) the priorities for an app to support PPIE; (4) the key features necessary in the PPIE app; and (5) the recommended next steps in testing and deploying the digital platform. Initial co-design workshops took place with young people, mental health professionals, and PPIE leads to identify key features of an app to support PPIE. A series of VoiceIn design prototypes were developed and iterated based on the priorities and preferences of the stakeholders. The MoSCoW (must have, should have, could have, won't have) prioritization method was used throughout the process to identify priorities across the different stakeholder groups. Co-design with young people, mental health professionals, and PPIE leads supported the successful development and improvement of the VoiceIn app. As a result of this process, key features were identified, including allowing for various modes of providing feedback (eg, polls and comments), reviewing project updates, and expressing interest in categories of research. The researcher platform was developed to support multimedia uploads for project descriptions; a jargon detector; a dedicated section for providing project updates; and a visually appealing, user-friendly design. While all stakeholder groups emphasized the importance of allowing app users to engage with the app in various ways and for there to be ongoing progress updates, group differences were also noticed. Young people expressed a desire for incentives and rewards for engaging with the app (eg, to post on their public social media profiles), and mental health professionals and PPIE leads prioritized flexibility in describing the project and its PPIE needs. A co-design approach was pivotal to the development of the VoiceIn app. This collaborative approach enabled the app to meet the divergent needs of young people, mental health professionals, and PPIE leads. This process mirrored the aspirations of PPIE initiatives by cocreating a digital health research tool with key stakeholders.

Supporting young people through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: a multi-site qualitative longitudinal study

BackgroundThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, youth have experienced substantial stress due to abrupt changes in education, finances, and social life, compounding pre-existing stressors. With youth (ages 15–26) often at critical points in development, they are vulnerable to long-term mental health challenges brought on by pandemic trauma.MethodsTo identify youth experiences throughout the pandemic and examine changes over time, we conducted semi-structured interviews among n = 141 youth in two Canadian provinces (Ontario and British Columbia) and across the country of Ireland at three time points over the course of more than one year (August 2020-October 2021). We conducted a qualitative longitudinal analysis using an inductive content approach.ResultsCategories identified were (1) coping with hardship; (2) opportunities for growth; (3) adapting to new ways of accessing services; (4) mixed views on the pandemic: attitudes, behaviour, and perception of policy response; (5) navigating COVID-19 information; (6) transitioning to life after the pandemic; and (7) youth-led recommendations for government and service response. The findings also reveal trends in health and wellness in accordance with prolonged periods of lockdown, changes in weather, and return to normalcy after the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Key recommendations from youth include incorporating youth voice into decision making, communicating public health information effectively to youth, enhancing service delivery post-pandemic, and planning for future pandemics.ConclusionsThese results provide insights into the extensive longitudinal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people across three geographical locations. Actively involving youth in decision making roles for future pandemics or public health emergencies is critical.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Multisystemic Therapy and Functional Family Therapy Targeting Antisocial Behavior in Adolescence

Youth criminal justice systems are under growing pressure to reduce re-offending behaviour and support young people's health and developmental needs. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to synthesise evidence for two prominent community-based interventions for delinquent and antisocial behaviour, multisystemic therapy (MST) and functional family therapy (FFT). We searched Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, and Social Services Abstracts for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies evaluating MST/FFT. Included studies involved participants aged under 18; included interventions targeted delinquent/antisocial behaviour, but not maltreatment. We estimated effect sizes for 6 primary outcomes, synthesising RCTs comparing MST/FFT to usual care using correlated hierarchical effects meta-analysis. We assessed risk of bias and evidence strength using best-practice tools. Given the additional resources needed to implement MST/FFT, we rated evidence strength against a minimum clinically important difference rather than a null effect. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021279736. We included 35 studies for MST (16 RCTs meta-analysed comprising 4095 participants, 26% female) and 19 studies for FFT (7 RCTs meta-analysed comprising 1471 participants, 22% female). MST had a likely clinically important effect on time in out-of-home care, but no clinically important effects on other primary outcomes (delinquency, new offences/convictions, placement in out-of-home care, substance use), with low-to-moderate evidence strength. FFT demonstrated possible clinically important effects for the number of new offences/convictions, time in out-of-home care, and substance use, but evidence strength was low. Contrary to reports in some evidence clearinghouses indicating that MST/FFT are supported by the highest level of evidence strength, there is limited evidence that these interventions are superior to usual care in reducing delinquent and antisocial behaviour in adolescence. These findings should be viewed in the context of important methodological differences with prior reviews, including the rating of evidence strength against a minimum clinically important difference.

Phobia: Supporting children and young people with specific fears

Research suggests that around 10% of children and teenagers have a specific phobia that significantly affects their mental health, functioning and development. Stephanie Thornton looks at the incidence, causes and interventions.

Mortality in adolescents receiving special education and social care provision: A population-level cohort study in England

BackgroundOver a third of children in England receive either special educational need (SEN) provision/children’s social care (CSC) support at least once during school. We aimed to describe all-cause and adversity-related mortality for adolescents who received SEN or CSC provision in England. ApproachWe used linked data from hospital admissions, death registrations, social care and education in the ECHILD database to follow all adolescents in state schools from age 13-years between 2009/10-2014/15 until death or 2020. Adolescents were grouped according to provision ever recorded before age 14: None, SEN only, CSC only or CSC and SEN. We estimated all-cause and adversity-related mortality in children with SEN/CSC/both compared to peers. ResultsThe cohort comprised 3,381,502 children (51% boys), of whom 30.1% (n=1,017,670, 62% boys) received SEN only, 4.2% (n=143,430, 36% boys) received CSC only and 8.7% (n=293,310, 57% boys) received SEN and CSC. In ten-year follow up, 6,590 deaths occurred (66% in boys). Mortality rates were 5.4 times higher for adolescents receiving both SEN and CSC, 2.4 times higher for CSC only, and 1.7 times higher for SEN only compared to peers. Rates of adversity-related deaths were highest for boys receiving SEN and CSC compared to peers. Conclusions & Implications8-in-1000 adolescents who received both SEN and CSC before age 13 died by age 23 years, far more often than their peers. Policies need to consider support for young people with additional educational and social care needs as they leave school and transition to adulthood.

Supporting children and young people affected by domestic abuse in Wales: a multiagency perspective on existing responses in the school system

ABSTRACT Children and young people (CYP) who experience domestic abuse are at greater risk of negative outcomes in adult life. In Wales, an emphasis is placed on a multiagency response to domestic abuse, and there is growing interest in the role of schools in prevention and intervention. A mixed-methods design was adopted to explore the views of professionals on the current response to domestic abuse. Questionnaires were completed by 36 schools in Wales, and a series of focus groups was held with CYP workers from specialist domestic abuse settings and from school and social work staff. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and reflexive thematic analysis. Four overarching themes were developed. Findings illustrate that, whilst there are a variety of interventions and support available for CYP who have experienced domestic abuse, an effective response is impacted by the systems in place to respond to it. It is argued that current practice needs to be more radical if meaningful change is to take place for CYP and their families. Implications for practice are discussed, including the role of the educational psychologist (EP).

‘Bridge-builders’ and ‘boundary spanners’: a qualitative study of youth workers’ perceptions of their roles and practices with vulnerable young people in school-based settings

ABSTRACT This paper presents a qualitative study of 22 youth workers’ perceptions of their roles and practices in seven school-based settings in a large post-industrial city in regional Australia. Youth workers are often engaged in school-based settings working with vulnerable young people, yet knowledge of how workers perceive and conceptualize their role and practice in these settings remains limited. Through focus group interviews, youth workers were asked how they engage, and work with vulnerable students, how they conceptualize their roles and the bodies of knowledge to which those practices and roles pertain. We find that youth work in school-based settings requires the dynamic and non-linear application of the practices of youth accompaniment, family support and youth-centred advocacy, underpinned by respect for the dignity, autonomy and agency of the young person. We argue that the complex application of these practices positions youth workers as ‘bridge-builders’ and ‘boundary-spanners’. Bridge-builders assist young people to connect and engage with support services. Boundary-spanners build relationships across service providers to network different organizations and professionals for better collaboration and support of young people. These findings have implications for youth policy and practice in the area of youth work with vulnerable young people in school-based settings.

Safety Nets: A Social Prescribing Intervention to Support Young People on CAMHS Waiting Lists

High numbers of children face mental health difficulties in the UK, leading to increased referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) which face reduced capacity and increased waiting times. Children’s mental health can deteriorate significantly during this wait for treatment. Safety Nets is an 8-week group intervention for children on CAMHS waiting lists, involving psychoeducation and physical activity co-delivered by clinicians and coaches at local sports clubs. A mixed-methods feasibility study was conducted exploring the impact of Safety Nets. A fully powered trial is now needed to further test for clinical and cost-effectiveness and to support future implementation.

Approaches to Supporting Young People in Out-of-Home Care Who ‘Self-Place’ in Unapproved Locations: Perspectives of Statutory Child Protection Practitioners

Abstract The responsibilities of statutory child protection practitioners (SCPPs) include supporting the care and protection needs of young people in out-of-home care. SCPPs face challenges in responding to young people’s preferences and rights to self-determination within child protection systems that are often risk averse. This article considers SCPPs’ approaches to working with young people who leave approved placements to stay in other, unapproved locations. This phenomenon is referred to as ‘self-placing’ in Queensland (Australia), where this study was conducted. These young people are often disconnected from support, at increased risk of homelessness and exploitation, have increased contact with the justice system, disengage from education, face barriers to mental and physical health care and experience ongoing trauma and crisis. We draw on data from seven focus groups conducted with twenty-six practitioners from Queensland’s child protection authority to explore how they work with this cohort. Our findings highlight the discomfort that SCPPs experience, due to concerns about risk and a lack of formal practice guidelines. Despite sharing concerns for the safety of young people, SCPPs adopt different approaches to manage the complexities of this work. Understanding these practices can assist in developing more responsive policies and practices for supporting this cohort.

Young People's Support for and Personal Interest in an Advance Provision Model for Medication Abortion

PurposeTo assess young people's interest in advance provision (AP) of medication abortion—receiving mifepristone and misoprostol from a clinician in advance for their future use. MethodsFrom November 2022-August 2023 we administered an electronic survey regarding advance provision to patients assigned female at birth at four Bay Area youth-serving clinics. ResultsAmong 152 people ages 14-24 years (mean 17.9) surveyed, 73.7% (95% CI, 65.9%-80.5%) supported and 46.1% (95% CI, 37.9%-54.3%) were interested in the AP model. AP interest was higher among people who experienced three or more difficulties trying to access reproductive healthcare (70.6% [95% CI, 44.0%-89.7%]) and who experienced food or housing insecurity (60.3% [95% CI, 46.6%-73.0%]). Most youth (81.6%) had a safe place to store the pills for later use; this proportion was significantly higher among people ages 18-24 years (88.5%) than teens ages 14-17 years (74.3%, P = .025). The most common perceived advantages of AP included being able to have the abortion earlier in pregnancy (61.8%), privacy (57.9%) and convenience (50.7%). Common disadvantages noted included concern that people might take the pills incorrectly (50.0%) or lose the pills (40.1%). ConclusionsYoung people have considerable interest in AP of medication abortion. Further research is needed to document the AP model's feasibility, clinical outcomes, and effect on access for adolescents.

Entrepreneurial Adult Education as a Catalyst for Youth Employability in Disadvantaged Areas

In this article, we establish a correlational reflection between ‘‘entrepreneurial’’ andragogy and youth employability through a description of its characteristics and other specificities, the identification of its strengths and weaknesses and by proposals likely to engender an andragogy more likely to materialize its objectives. In fact, three data collection instruments are involved to achieve such a construct, in particular, a documentary exploitation necessary for a theorization of our theme, a questionnaire against ours ample of 22 young entrepreneurs and finally a guide maintenance for another sample of 6 andragogues. The results of this research reveal a ‘‘trompe l’œil’’ (57%) in terms of the characteristics and/or specificities of entrepreneurial andragogy in a disadvantaged environment point to the ‘‘lack’’ or ‘‘insufficiency’’ of State funding (82, 3%) as a major weakness of the adult training and consecutively propose and improvement and/or facilitation of the said (92, 6%), for more promising processes of habilitation and empowerment. In addition to its theoretical aspect, the scientific implication of such a study lies in the amplification of the field of knowledge relating to the general training of young adults, and more to entrepreneurship training in particular. The professional side of the implication of such a reflection concerns more its propensity to want to increase the knowledge, know- how and above all know-how of andragogues in terms of training, monitoring and support for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds specifically.

Hoping for community in a technologically decelerated world - A critical utopian approach

Against the backdrop of technological acceleration during the Covid-19 pandemic, this paper addresses how educational practitioners’ hopes articulate a critique of the present and simultaneously give voice to (im)possible futures. Drawing on Bloch's "principle of hope" (1995), Appadurai's "traces of future" (2021) and Levitas’ "utopia as method" (2013), we utilize a critical utopian approach inspired by Muñoz (2009). We interviewed educational practitioners who worked with young people during the pandemic, and identify three themes articulating our interviewees’ hopes for technologically decelerated futures: 1) young people’s participation in decision-making, which is linked to the wish for more visibility for young people in the future; 2) mutual care, which is interwoven with the wish for support in young people’s lives to be more reliable; 3) appreciation for other groups, opinions and ways of life, which is linked to the wish for more future interpersonal understanding. These three themes point to an overarching desire for solidarity in community which needs time, occasions, role models and spaces of encounter. We discuss the priority of technologically decelerated hopes and conclude with implications for future research that brings together imaginations of futures, observations of practical action and designs for future artefacts.

What Should Personalised Mental Health Support Involve? Views of Young People with Lived Experience and Professionals from Eight Countries

Research demonstrates that young people value mental health support that is tailored to their needs and preferences, rather than a “one size fits all” offer, which is often not equitably accessible (National Children’s Bureau, 2021). Understanding young people’s lived experiences across different sociocultural contexts is important. The aim of this research was to conduct an international qualitative study on the views of young people with lived experience and professionals, on proposed aspects of personalised support for anxiety and/or depression. Participatory action focus groups were conducted with N = 120 young people with lived experience of anxiety and/or depression (14–24 years) and with N = 63 professionals in Brazil, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Data were analysed using the rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) technique. Overall, although some country-specific differences were found in terms of what aspects of support young people found to be most important, individual preferences were considered stronger, furthering the view that support should be personalised to the needs of the individual young person. Young people experiencing anxiety and/or depression should be able to choose for themselves which aspects of support they would prefer in their own care and support plans, with families and mental health professionals providing guidance where appropriate, rather than removing the young person from the decision-making process altogether. It should also be ensured that the aspects of personalised support can be understood by young people and professionals from different contexts, including marginalised and minoritised groups and communities.

Encouraging young people’s capability to act: the complementary role of different leisure-time contexts in their everyday life

ABSTRACT This article foregrounds different leisure-time contexts and their relative support of young people’s capability to act. Analyses employ a new measurement instrument, which captures young people’s perception of the qualities of an exhaustive set of leisure-time contexts. Data was collected from 739 young people aged 16 to 17 years, who participated in the beginning of 2020 in the third wave of a quantitative panel in Vienna, Austria. Results highlight the potential of public/urban facilities since these support young people’s capability to act in comparable ways as training, courses, and rehearsals but are less rooted in heteronomy and obligation. Moreover, the study underscores that less-structured leisure time cannot be treated as a single plane of experience. Friends’ homes and outdoors in nature emerged as contexts that allow young people to experience a sense of possibility.

Change, Adversity, and Adaptation: Young People's Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic Expressed through Artwork and Semi-Structured Interviews.

This study explores how young people's mental health was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic using artwork and semi-structured interviews. The mental health impacts of the pandemic are important to understand so that policy and practice professionals can support those affected, prepare and respond to future crises, and support young people who are isolated and restricted in other contexts. Co-designed participatory art workshops and interviews were conducted with 16-18-year-olds (n = 21, 62% female) from the London-based Longitudinal cohort Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (SCAMP). Artworks and interview transcripts were qualitatively co-and analysed with young people. From interviews, six themes were identified: adaptation, restriction, change, challenges, overcoming adversity, and lockdown life. From the artwork, four themes were identified: trapped, negative mental wellbeing, positive emotions, and technology. Everyday factors such as home environment, social support, hobbies, habits, and online education were key determinants of how challenged and restricted participants felt, and their capacity to overcome this. This demonstrates the importance of wider (social and environmental) determinants and supports a systems-level public health approach to young people's mental health. For example, young people's mental health services should collaborate with other sectors to address such determinants in a holistic way. Clearer guidance and support with occupation, relationships, environment, routine and activities could mitigate the negative mental health impacts of major environmental changes on young people.

Exploring Religion as a Path to Meaning: The Role of "Pastrotherapy" in Supporting Young People's Quest for a Good Life in Nigeria.

This paper examines suicide prevalence among Nigerian youth struggling to find meaning in life. Frustrated by unattainable ideals, they experience despair. The study explores religion's role in providing support for meaning-seeking individuals. Utilizing an explorative approach, the paper highlights how religion can play a role in offering solidarity, morality, and hope as vital resources for creating a meaningful life. It introduces "Pastrotherapy" as a pastoral care approach to addressing existential questions. Findings emphasize the importance of religious communities and leaders in promoting resilience and addressing underlying causes of despair. This study reveals how religious beliefs and practices support Nigerian youth facing existential challenges, shedding light on the intersection of religion, meaning-making, and mental health.

Supporting children, young people and families to self-manage atopic eczema.

Atopic eczema is common in childhood and can continue into adulthood. Adherence to treatment is a significant factor in its effective management, but the complexity of treatment regimens can make adherence challenging. Additionally, living with the condition can have adverse psychosocial consequences for young people in particular. This article discusses treatment regimens for moderate-to-severe atopic eczema and some of the challenges encountered by children, young people and families in self-managing the condition. The authors discuss strategies that can support families to achieve optimal self-management, namely online support tools, written action plans and nurse-led eczema clinics.

Integrated web of youth happiness measures

The objective of this research is to comprehend how these elements interact to influence young people's subjective happiness and to provide insightful information about their perspectives. Significant discoveries are shown by the study's findings. This research paper conducts a thorough analysis of the many factors that affect youth happiness, including GDP, loneliness, longevity, autonomy, generosity, and corruption. First off, GDP shows up as a significant and noticeably positive factor to young happiness. This emphasizes how crucial economic success is in raising young people's life happiness. Second, autonomy is recognized as another important factor, showing a significant and favorable influence on happiness. It emphasizes how important one's own independence and life control are for young wellbeing. Additionally, the study uncovers a diverse range of impacts among these indicators. Longevity and Generosity are found to positively influence happiness, emphasizing the role of health and social support in young people's contentment. Conversely, Loneliness and Corruption exhibit significant negative effects on happiness, underscoring the detrimental consequences of social isolation and institutional corruption on youth well-being. In conclusion, this research paper offers a holistic view of youth happiness, recognizing the multifaceted nature of its determinants. These findings have important implications for policymakers, highlighting the need to address not only economic aspects but also personal autonomy, social connectedness, and integrity in efforts to promote youth happiness and well-being in society.

‘When they’re saying what is completely opposite to what you morally believe’: (in)action on climate change by State authorities and powerful bodies drives moral injury and eco-distress in UK young people

Abstract Young people are increasingly distressed by the climate and ecological crises (eco-distress). This has been associated with the failure of people in power to act appropriately, which may cause moral distress and moral injury. We examined this hypothesis by interviewing 13 young adults (19–25 years) in the UK about their climate concerns and perceptions of how State actors and authorities are responding to climate change. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four themes were developed: (1) Climate change is a wicked problem, (2) Moral distress is associated with witnessing acts of omission and commission, (3) Moral distress drives eco-distress, and (4) Opportunities for moral repair. Climate concerns extended to broader concerns about ecological degradation (eco-distress), linked to feelings of moral distress arising from repeatedly witnessing powerful people failing to act on climate change. Eco-distress was also exacerbated by (a) witnessing others in society failing to take appropriate responsibility, (b) realising the limitations of individual action, and (c) being embedded within a culture where personal contribution to climate change is inescapable. In contrast, eco-distress was lessened by seeing authorities engage with the issues morally, and further mitigated by collective, ethical, pro-environmental action. This adds empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that eco-distress involves moral distress and injury arising when State authorities and other powerful bodies engage in wrongful acts and omissions on climate change. We argue that this is affecting the wellbeing of young people and supports the argument that such wrongful (in)action infringes human rights. Clinical implications are discussed. Key learning aims (1) To understand how and why moral distress and moral injury relate to the distress that young people feel about climate change (eco-distress). (2) To consider the clinical implications of formulating eco-distress in a way that includes reference to the violation of core moral codes. (3) To explore what opportunities exist that could reduce moral distress and support young people. (4) To understand how research into moral distress and moral injury in relation to climate change can offer important insight into the relevance of eco-distress to human rights infringements and justice-oriented care. (5) To discuss practical solutions that might support moral repair, both in psychotherapy settings and in broader social policy.