Youth Transitions Research Articles

Parent[sbnd]youth interactions: Transitioning to toileting self-management in spina bifida patients

PurposeSpina bifida (SB) involves neurogenic bladder and bowel deficits. While parents manage the bladder and bowel disorders of their youth in the early years, the youth themselves must eventually take responsibility for their own management. However, the experience of shifting responsibility for complex toilet management from the parents to the youth has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, as exploratory research, the present study aimed to reveal the interactions between parents and youths with SB during the time of increasing responsibility for bladder and bowel management (i.e., the transition phase). MethodsTwelve parent–youth pairs (youths with SB aged 11–18 years) participated in dyadic interviews, and a parent–youth transition experience was categorized by the context of parent–youth interactions and analyzed using the grounded theory approach. ResultsThe results indicated that parents provide professional, complete bladder and bowel management until their youth reach physical and mental maturity. During the transitional phase, they work together to master youth self-management in interactions described as “share, try, and decide through parent–youth interactions”. Finally, the youth are able to master control of their own bladder and bowel management without requiring assistance from their parents. ConclusionsAlthough parent–youth interactions are not always present during the pre- and post-transition phases, the parent–youth relationship acts to facilitate the independence of the youth by taking advantage of the parent–youth subsystem during the transitional phase. Interventions during these challenging periods could help facilitate the transition to bladder and bowel self-management among the youth.

Studying the problems of youth "transitions" in European countries

This article analyzes the research of European youth policy. The subject of the study is the main trends, typology and principles of functioning of youth "transitions" in European countries. The question of the need to study the phenomenon of youth "transitions" is relevant and timely, since today there is no generally accepted view on the ways to study these processes. The methodological basis of the study was analysis and synthesis, institutional, systemic and comparative approaches. Based on the studied material, the authors conclude that when considering strategies for youth "transitions", it is necessary to take into account several institutional areas, such as the type of socially-oriented state and the specifics of the transition from study to work. The interaction of these strategies gives different models of youth transitions. These studies highlight important interethnic differences depending on the modes of distribution of social assistance, types of capitalism, as well as growth strategies.Thus, we have considered various strategies structuring the transition to adulthood: in order to explain the different models of youth "transitions", it is necessary to take into account several institutional areas, such as the type of socially-oriented state and the specifics of the transition from study to work. The interaction of these strategies gives different models of youth transitions. Although many European researchers argue that age policy is important in this regard due to the aging of society and the growth of "gray power", most of the works devoted to this issue actually refute the hypothesis of bias in favor of the elderly: these studies emphasize important interethnic differences depending on the modes of distribution of social assistance, types of capitalism, as well as growth strategies. As a result, we come to the conclusion that young people should be considered as part of society as a whole, and, therefore, in order to understand how they move into adulthood, it is necessary to see the full institutional, political and economic picture.

Exploratory study of the provision of academic and health-related accommodations to transition-age adolescents and emerging adults with spina bifida.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the types of academic and health-related accommodations provided to adolescents and emerging adults with spina bifida aged 9-20 years. Data were extracted from the paper and electronic records of transition-age youth enrolled in the study. Four open ended items involved content analysis. The most frequently identified accommodation was enrollment in special education classes in 47.7% of the charts. Other academic accommodations that were most often reported were adaptive physical education (n = 71, 39.9%), tutoring (n = 28; 15.7%), and home schooling (n = 21; 11.8%). Clean intermittent catheterization was the most frequently identified health-related accommodation provided by the school nurse/aide (n = 57; 32%).The largest percentage of requests for additional accommodations were made during the middle school grades (15; 54.8%) followed by high school (10; 32.2%). Findings demonstrated that persistent issues were identified by parents/adolescents regarding the provision of school-related accommodations. This is a relevant area for clinical practice to ensure students with special health care needs and those with spina bifida receive the academic and health-related accommodations in their Individualized Education Program/504 plans.

Understanding a Care Management System's Role in Influencing a Transitional-Aged Youth Program's Practice: Mixed Methods Study.

Extended foster care programs help prepare transitional-aged youth (TAY) to step into adulthood and live independent lives. Aspiranet, one of California's largest social service organizations, used a social care management solution (SCMS) to meet TAY's needs. We aimed to investigate the impact of an SCMS, IBM Watson Care Manager (WCM), in transforming foster program service delivery and improving TAY outcomes. We used a mixed methods study design by collecting primary data from stakeholders through semistructured interviews in 2021 and by pulling secondary data from annual reports, system use logs, and data repositories from 2014 to 2021. Thematic analysis based on grounded theory was used to analyze qualitative data using NVivo software. Descriptive analysis of aggregated outcome metrics in the quantitative data was performed and compared across 2 periods: pre-SCMS implementation (before October 31, 2016) and post-SCMS implementation (November 1, 2016, and March 31, 2021). In total, 6 Aspiranet employees (4 leaders and 2 life coaches) were interviewed, with a median time of 56 (IQR 53-67) minutes. The majority (5/6, 83%) were female, over 30 years of age (median 37, IQR 32-39) with a median of 6 (IQR 5-10) years of experience at Aspiranet and overall field experience of 10 (IQR 7-14) years. Most (4/6, 67%) participants rated their technological skills as expert. Thematic analysis of participants' interview transcripts yielded 24 subthemes that were grouped into 6 superordinate themes: study context, the impact of the new tool, key strengths, commonly used features, expectations with WCM, and limitations and recommendations. The tool met users' initial expectations of streamlining tasks and adopting essential functionalities. Median satisfaction scores around pre- and post-WCM workflow processes remained constant between 2 life coaches (3.25, IQR 2.5-4); however, among leaders, post-WCM scores (median 4, IQR 4-5) were higher than pre-WCM scores (median 3, IQR 3-3). Across the 2 study phases, Aspiranet served 1641 TAY having consistent population demographics (median age of 18, IQR 18-19 years; female: 903/1641, 55.03%; race and ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino: 621/1641, 37.84%; Black: 470/1641, 28.64%; White: 397/1641, 24.19%; Other: 153/1641, 9.32%). Between the pre- and post-WCM period, there was an increase in full-time school enrollment (359/531, 67.6% to 833/1110, 75.04%) and a reduction in part-time school enrollment (61/531, 11.5% to 91/1110, 8.2%). The median number of days spent in the foster care program remained the same (247, IQR 125-468 years); however, the number of incidents reported monthly per hundred youth showed a steady decline, even with an exponentially increasing number of enrolled youth and incidents. The SCMS for coordinating care and delivering tailored services to TAY streamlined Aspiranet's workflows and processes and positively impacted youth outcomes. Further enhancements are needed to better align with user and youth needs.

Prevalence and correlates of methamphetamine use in transitional age youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability in San Francisco, CA.

Substance use, including methamphetamine use, is a contributing factor in HIV acquisition and treatment. Stimulant use is linked to mental health yet there is limited data from youth in community-based settings. One hundred marginally housed or homeless transitional age youth (TAY) were recruited at Larkin Street Youth Services and completed a survey on mental health and substance use. We conducted secondary data analysis using multivariable logistic regression models to identify the correlates of methamphetamine use among TAY. The participants' mean age was 22. Of those who reported methamphetamine use in the past 3 months, 64% were Gay, Bisexual, or Pansexual. Factors independently associated with methamphetamine use were; living with HIV (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=3.18, 95% CI=1.11-9.15), depressive symptoms (aOR=6.02, 95% CI=1.46-24.78), symptoms of PTSD (aOR=13.38, 95% CI=1.59-112.73), polysubstance use in the past 3 months (aOR=50.02, 95% CI=9.72-257.46) and a history of injection drug use (aOR=8.38, 95% CI=1.87-37.53). Results from this study suggest a need to develop, adapt, and rapidly implement comprehensive interventions that address the combined epidemics of substance use, HIV, and mental health among TAY. This article examines factors associated with methamphetamine use among transitional age youth (TAY) experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Several factors were associated with use, including depression, PTSD, HIV status, polysubstance use, and injection drug use. These findings highlight the need for nurses to assess for methamphetamine use among youth as well as associated mental health and physical health problems. Nurses should link TAY who are using methamphetamine to evidence-based treatment programs to address substance use and comorbid conditions.

Youth-Caseworker Relationship Quality & Academic Resilience Among Transition-Age Youth in Foster Care

Youth-Caseworker Relationship Quality & Academic Resilience Among Transition-Age Youth in Foster Care

‘We’re not a separate entity, we're staff now’ The involvement of transition age youth peer supporters in trauma-informed community partnerships

BackgroundTransition age youth (TAY) experiencing mental illness, homelessness, and trauma face challenges in navigating the transition to adulthood. Age appropriate, trauma-informed support from peer specialists (PS) can assist TAY who have experienced trauma in navigating their transition to adulthood. Whether and how TAY PS are involved in trauma-informed community-based partnerships is unclear. This study explores TAY PS experiences with and social network positions in trauma-informed ‘TAY-support networks.’ MethodsSocial network data were collected from four TAY-support networks. Structural analyses (network size and density) and core periphery analyses were conducted to elucidate TAY PS network positions, while focus groups were conducted with TAY PS to understand their experiences delivering services. Focus group data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Data were triangulated to understand whether and how focus group results expanded on our social network analysis. ResultsTAY support networks included 194 persons (range: 32–55) and 26 TAY PS. In two networks, TAY PS were located at the network’s core and periphery, and reported ongoing contributions to initiative activities. In two other networks, TAY PS were located at the network periphery and reported challenges with team communication. ConclusionsTo maximize TAY PS contributions to multidisciplinary partnerships, organizations should 1) include TAY PS throughout program planning and implementation and 2) provide age-appropriate professional supports to TAY PS.

Exploring Special Education and Center for Independent Living Professional Beliefs on Collaboration and the Value-Based Principles That Drive Secondary Transition Service Delivery

The importance of interagency collaboration to support the postschool outcomes of youth with disabilities is underscored in many ways. Perhaps one of the most important among them is the place of interagency collaboration as an evidence-based predictor of postschool success. Although Centers for Independent Living (CILs) receive U.S. federal funding to serve people with disabilities across the lifespan, little research exists to map the nature of their collaboration with local education agencies (LEAs) to this end. The current survey-based study examined perceptions of professionals in both settings (i.e., LEAs and CILs) on their current level of collaboration with one another and the value-based principles they believe influence their work as they support transition-age youth with disabilities ( n = 581). Findings indicate a widespread belief in the importance of CILs in youth transition service delivery, a stark contrast between CIL and school-based transition professional perceptions of current collaboration, and a dynamic landscape of shared and divergent ratings of importance across value-based principles of transition practice. Practical implications are outlined to inform CIL and LEA collaboration to support youth with disabilities alongside directions for future research.

Failed Emancipations: Youth Transitions, Migration and the Future in Morocco

Several authors have highlighted the importance of marriage as a social marker that alters the social categorization of individuals and their relationships from youth to adulthood, according to the cultural construction of the life course in Arab countries. This article analyzes the interaction between the socio-political framework (structure) and the capacity for individual action (agency) in the context of biographical experiences for achieving emancipation in Morocco. This perspective responds to different authors’ demands to include young people’s subjective approaches in the analysis process. This study is guided by the following questions: What capacity do young Arabs have to decide the orientation of their life trajectories? Which factors (cultural, family, socioeconomic, educational, etc.) generate young people’s expectations regarding their transition to adult life? What are the social constrictions that lead to failure in the emancipation process, according to Arab societies?

Mental Health Service Experiences Among Transition-Age Youth: Interpersonal Continuums that Influence Engagement in Care.

Purpose. Transition-age youth (TAY) who have experienced or are experiencing complex trauma, system involvement and homelessness are at increased risk for serious mental health needs and related challenges. However, these vulnerable and historically marginalized TAY typically have low rates of mental health service engagement. This study examines how and why TAY experiencing system involvement, homelessness, and serious mental health and substance use symptoms engage in mental health services, and what facilitates and/or hinders their engagement in services. Methods. Twenty-one TAY completed a virtual interview about their previous and current mental health service experiences, and why they did or did not engage with mental health services. A modified grounded theory qualitative analysis approach was used to understand how participants' personal sense of meaning interacted with programmatic factors to construct participant experiences with mental health services. Results. Most participants (81%, n = 17) received mental health services, namely psychiatry (76%, n = 16) and counseling/therapy (48%, n = 10), and peer support (10%, n = 2). Participants described their mental health service experiences along three interpersonal and relational continuums between themselves and their providers: feeling (mis)understood, being treated with (dis)respect, and experiencing (dis)trust. Discussion. Study findings reveal that for these particularly vulnerable and marginalized TAY, relational and interpersonal factors significantly influenced their engagement in mental health services. Study findings call for providers to re-imagine their working alliance with highly vulnerable TAY through culturally-attuned practices that promote understanding, respect, and trust. Findings also call for TAY-serving programs and policies to re-imagine peer support as a mental health service option for this highly vulnerable population.

Parent Perspectives: Understanding the Postschool Concerns of Parents of Transition-Age Youth With Disabilities

Given the importance of family participation in transition planning, it is essential to understand the concerns parents have for their children with disabilities so professionals can better address family needs and develop strategies to enhance expectations and improve student outcomes. Using results from a national U.S. survey, we examined the extent of parent concern with their child’s postschool outcomes, how postschool concerns are organized, and the factors that predict increased concern. Participants were 240 parents of youth with disabilities ages 16 to 21 years. Results indicate that parent concerns are across postschool activities. Predictors of increased concerns included parent and student characteristics. Comparisons between White and non-White families showed differences in extent of postschool concerns between the groups. Paid work experiences and employing a strengths-based approach were related to decreased concerns. Limitations and implications are discussed.

A worldwide survey of perspectives on demands, resources, and barriers influencing the youth-to-senior transition in academy football players

The youth-to-first team phase presents a number of challenges in the careers of modern football players with stagnation, inconsistent performance and dropout being reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of staff involved in professional academy football clubs around the globe, with a particular focus on youth and first team transition demands, resources as well as transitions barriers and coping among male academy football players. Participants from 29 male youth academies distributed across 29 countries took part in the survey. Our main findings suggested training and match intensity reported as being greater at the senior-level and also pressure from parents. The majority of respondents indicated their clubs having long-term strategy for player development and specific roles supporting successful player transitions. Exposure to different playing styles was deemed important to prepare players for the first team. Likewise, having the academy and the first team training on the same site was perceived to ease the transition, with the majority of respondents indicating that players are able to cope with the pressure of first team training and games. Perceptions on whether staff do not have the skills/resources to prepare players for the changes in environment and culture when players move from youth-to-senior level were unclear. Collectively, our study extends previous transition research on youth football academies suggesting the importance of a club-based playing philosophy to prepare players for the first team demands and challenges.

Return mobilities and Italian youth transitions: new meanings around adulthood

ABSTRACT Part of a larger ethnographic study on Italian youth mobilities, this paper investigates the transitions to adulthood of young returnees who have gone back to Italy after a period of living and working in Australia. Adopting the ‘mobile transitions’ approach, we illustrate the ways in which mobility affects transitions to adulthood. We suggest that upon return these transitions unfold like a palimpsest, where the old texts are layered over with new ones, unsettling conventions about adult life and disrupting assumptions that return is a final stage in the transition process. New meanings around adulthood emerge in these young Italians’ mobile experience that continue also after return. We explore this through their aspirations for the future and their renegotiation of family relationships. Return for these young movers means bringing home a new perception of their current and future selves and especially of their role within their family of origin and Italian social and political culture. This is significant if we consider that Italy is the ‘country of the long family’ (Cavalli, A. 1997. “La lunga transizione all’età adulta.” In Giovani del nuovo secolo. Quinto rapporto IARD sulla condizione giovanile in Italia, edited by C. Buzzi, A. Cavalli, and A. De Lillo, 38–45. Bologna: Il Mulino), where the youth condition is characterized by a delayed acquisition of autonomy and the consequent late assumption of responsibility and adult roles.

Intersectionality and Social Security Age-18 Redetermination: Reducing the Stress and Trauma of Transition for Black Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities.

Greater attention is being paid to the transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities. We are also at a period of reckoning with the vestiges of slavery, Jim Crow, and a lack of constitutional protections for Black-identifying persons. The contemporary impact of inequitable access to opportunities, services, and supports that would improve the quality of life of racialized Black individuals has added consequences for Black youth with disabilities. A sub-population of youth with disabilities receives monthly support in the form of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), with a disproportionate number of Black-identifying youth qualifying for SSI. Such youth are impacted by the intersectionality of racism, disability, and poverty. The outcome of an SSI age-18 redetermination can be precarious and occurs in the backdrop of these intersectional forces, impacting the life course of racialized Black youth and their families on a scale that is concerning. The authors describe the time frames of pre age-18 redetermination, age-18 redetermination and post age-18 redetermination in the contexts of intersectionality and transition, and articulate what type of services and supports can reduce the experience of chronic stress in the lives of racialized Black youth facing an SSI age-18 redetermination, and thereby improve the outcomes of these youth as they transition to adulthood.

The Twisting Path to Adulthood: Roma/Cigano Youth in Urban Portugal

While there is a growing body of research on Ciganos/Roma in Portugal, little is known about how Cigano youth transition into adulthood. In this article, we address this gap by drawing on a qualitative study on the transitions of young Ciganos living in Cascais, a coastal municipality in the Lisbon district. Using a multi‐method approach, we explore the life course trajectories of Cigano youth within the areas of education, livelihoods, and marriage, and how these areas shape their transition experiences. The empirical material shows that the transition into adulthood of Cigano youth is influenced by broader structural and socio‐cultural factors. Processes of socialization, ethnicity, and gender restrict young Ciganos’ participation in education and formal labor markets, which increases their vulnerability to marginalization and exclusion in society. Cigano youth, however, initiate different pathways in their life trajectories to achieve adulthood. By focusing on the voices of Cigano youth, we challenge the homogenization of their lives in Portugal and highlight how social age and linked lives shape their transitions into adulthood.

Lost in Transition: The Journey from Pediatric to Adult Care for Youth with Mental Health Conditions

Nearly one out of three (30.6%) young adults (18–25 years) experience mental illness (NIMH). In the United States suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people. Transition age youth (16–25 years) with mental health conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders, experience substantial adversity during the shift from pediatric to adult health care. Research by our team has shown that youth with mental health conditions utilize less outpatient care as they emerge into adulthood. These results echo the American Psychiatric Association position statement that transition age youth are “underserved in current mental health systems”. Understanding provider perspectives to caring for this unique patient population may help to increase health care utilization and quality of care for transition age youth with mental health conditions. This product offers providers real-world tips on what they can do to help and advocate for based on our work.

Collaboration between mental health and vocational rehabilitation programs for transition-age youth vocational outcomes.

The present study's objective was to assess the extent of collaboration between VR programs and MH programs that serve this age group and to identify interorganizational factors associated with collaboration levels. Participants were 100 key informants from VR, and child mental health (CMH), transition-age youth MH (TAYMH), and adult mental health (AMH) programs in communities that received federal funding to improve services for TAY with or at risk of SMHC. Participants completed web surveys that queried four interorganizational factors and employed a modified social network analysis methodology to assess collaboration levels. The interorganizational factor, depth of knowledge, had a strong and consistent association with collaboration levels. There was little difference in MH-VR collaboration levels between MH programs serving different age groups. However, VR programs and CMH programs had both lower depth of knowledge of each other and lower collaboration levels, compared to TAY and AMH programs. Collaboration between VR and MH programs is instrumental to making sure that TAY with SMHC receive appropriate career development and employment services. Increasing the depth of knowledge that programs have about each other may enhance collaboration and appears particularly needed between VR and CMH programs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Cross-sectional Comparison of Disparities by Race Using White vs Hispanic as Reference Among Children and Youths With Developmental Disabilities Referred for Speech Therapy

Health care research on racial disparities among children and youths has historically used the White race as a reference category with which other racial and ethnic groups are compared, which may inadvertently set up Whiteness as a standard for health. To compare 2 interpretations of an analysis of racial disparities in speech therapy receipt among children and youths with developmental disabilities: a traditional, White-referenced analysis and a Hispanic majority-referenced analysis. This cross-sectional study used multiple logistic regression to analyze speech therapy referrals for children, adolescents, and transition age youths in an integrated health care system in Southern California from 2017 to 2020. Eligible participants were children and youths up to age 26 years with 1 or more diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability (eg, autism spectrum disorder, speech or language delay, developmental delay, Down syndrome, and others). Child or youth race and ethnicity as reported by parents or caregivers (Asian, Black and African American, Hispanic and Latinx, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, White, multiple, and other). Receipt of speech therapy within 1 year of referral. A total 66 402 referrals were included; 65 833 referrals (99.1%) were for children under age 17 years, 47 323 (71.3%) were for boys, and 39 959 (60.2%) were commercially insured. A majority of participants were identified as Hispanic (36 705 [55.3%]); 6167 (9.3%) were identified as Asian, 4810 (7.2%) as Black, and 14 951 (22.5%) as White. In the traditional racial disparities model where the reference category was White, referrals of children and youths who identified as Hispanic, Black, Pacific Islander, and other had lower odds of actual receipt of speech therapy compared with referrals for White children and youths (Hispanic: OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.75-0.83; Black: OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.66-0.78; Pacific Islander: OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.98). When using the majority race group (Hispanic) as the reference category, referrals for children and youths who identified as White (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.20-1.30), Asian (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.12-1.30), and multiracial (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.08-1.71) had higher odds of resulting in actual service receipt in comparison with referrals for Hispanic children and youths. The cross-sectional study demonstrates the value of decentering Whiteness in interpreting racial disparities research and considering racial differences against multiple referents. Racial disparities researchers should consider investigating multiple between-group differences instead of exclusively using White as the default reference category.

Youth transition, agricultural education and employment in Uganda: freeing individual agency

ABSTRACT The reality of the troubles young people encounter in navigating confining social and institutional settings to become productive workers and flourishing citizens in sub-Saharan African countries like Uganda continues to attract all sorts of theoretical and social policy assumptions. One such prominent assumption is the idea that increased young people’s participation in agricultural education and work has the potential to stem escalating youth unemployment. The related narrative that young people are less keen to plunge their learning and work life in agriculture owing to its low social status poses a huge education and labour policy dilemma across SSA and similar contexts. Amid this dilemma are narratives, which seem to underplay the influential social arrangements that structure the education–work trajectories of young people and the perceptions and practice of micro-social actors in the agriculture education and labour markets. Questionable narratives that often attempt to frame young people as authors of their own troubled work transitions abound sections of social policy and development discourse. Moreover, mainstream research and evaluative studies in Uganda and similar contexts do have a traditional focus on macro and meso structures with limited methodological interest into the voices and experiences of frontline social actors. Accordingly, this qualitative study is an in-depth examination of personal and contextual influences on young people’s agricultural education-employment transitions; and exploration of how to improve transition processes for optimising learning and labour market outcomes. The findings reveal unprecedented resilience and volitions of young people to advance their education–work trajectories despite the structural barriers. The study showed a reasonable degree of enthusiasm amongst some micro-social actors in supporting young people on their life transitions though often constrained by confining social and institutional arrangements. The study yielded robust evidence into the difficulties to cause AET system improvements for better student outcomes but also delivered incredible insights for making change possible. Freeing and nurturing the individual agency of Ugandan young people to choose and pursue agricultural education and work aspirations along the constricting pathways enacted as part of societal canalisation is among the core elements of this thesis. The agency freedom and professional autonomy of frontline social actors, especially agricultural educators to enable them to practise craftsmanship, democracy and associated transformative approaches for better preparation of young people to navigate their education and career trajectories is equally a core argument of this thesis.

2.53 The Efficacy and Cognitive Effects of Acute-Course ECT Are Equal in Adolescents, Transitional-Aged Youth, and Young Adults

ECT is the most effective acute treatment for depression, but its use in younger patients is rare and heavily regulated in many US states. It is unclear whether age modifies treatment response or tolerability in adolescents, transitional-aged youth, and young adults. We examined the effects of ECT on depression and cognition in patients aged 16 to 30 years.