Youth Experience Research Articles

Youth and Young Terror: Canadian Case Law and the Socio-Carceral Dynamics of Youth and Young Offenders Convicted of Terrorism Offences

Focusing on developments within Canadian jurisprudence, the authors explore significant case law and its impact on our understanding of the challenges faced by youth and young offenders convicted of terrorism offences while navigating the legal and correctional systems. We demonstrate how Canadian law has often failed to address the needs and lived experiences of youth and young offenders convicted of terrorism offences while dealing with legal supports and corrections’ resources. To that end, we scrutinize important Canadian case law. Preliminary findings highlight the inadequate interventions measures, both at the state and non-state levels, available to inmates who have committed terrorism-related offences, as well as question whether such interventions have any reintegrative value for youth and young offenders’ personal growth and desistence upon release. Moreover, institutional deficits, such as the absence of correctional programing leave open the opportunity for re-offending and radicalization upon release. If there is a role for law to play in rehabilitation, a thorough exploration of case law as it relates to youth offenders convicted of terrorism offences is required. In addition to examining Canadian jurisprudence and its impact on understanding the challenges faced by youth and young offenders convicted of terrorism offences, it is crucial to underscore the importance of strong and conventional community ties after release. These ties can significantly mitigate further alienation and extremist tendencies. Socio-legal and carceral recommendations are discussed.

Understanding the Learning Experiences of Low-Income Midwest Rural Latinx Youth During COVID-19: A Culturally Responsive Approach

ABSTRACT While research acknowledged the challenges faced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic, a critical gap existed in understanding the specific experiences of low-income Latinx youth. This study explored how these students navigated the transition to remote learning through a culturally responsive critical literacy program that incorporated their cultural backgrounds and lived experiences into the learning process. Findings from nine rural Latinx youth revealed a lack of motivation and anxieties surrounding both the remote learning format and the economic hardships their families faced due to the pandemic. Despite these challenges, strong community and family support (bridging & bonding) emerged as a crucial factor in fostering resilience. This research underscores the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) that validates Latinx culture and knowledge. It argues against standardized curricula, advocating for a re-envisioned CRP that integrates community-driven initiatives and prioritizes language considerations. Implications for practice are provided.

Parent, child, and adolescent lived experience using the insulin-only iLet Bionic Pancreas.

Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems show great promise for improving glycemic outcomes and reducing disease burden for youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The current study examined youth and parent perspectives after using the insulin-only iLet Bionic Pancreas (BP) during the 13-week pivotal trial. Parents and youth participated in focus group interviews, with questions assessing participants' experiences in a variety of settings and were grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Qualitative analysis was completed by 3 authors using a hybrid thematic analysis approach. Qualitative analysis of focus groups revealed a total of 19 sub-themes falling into 5 major themes (Diabetes Burden, Freedom and Flexibility, Daily Routine, Managing Glucose Levels, and User Experience). Participants' overall experience was positive, with decreased burden and improved freedom and flexibility. Some participants reported challenges in learning to trust the system, adjusting to the user interface, and the system learning their body. This study adds to the growing literature on patient perspectives on using AID systems and was among the first to assess caregiver and youth experiences with the BP system over an extended period (13 weeks). Patient feedback on physical experiences with the device and experiences trusting the device to manage glucose should inform future development of technologies as well as approaches to education for patients and their families.

Experiences of Youth Studying Together with Classmates with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Experiences of Youth Studying Together with Classmates with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Equity in Mental Health Care Receipt among Youth Who Use School-Based Health Centers

Youth experience significant mental health (MH) needs, and gender- and racially/ethnically-diverse youth are less likely than peers to receive care. School-based health centers (SBHCs) are a healthcare delivery model that may decrease disparities. This study examined the role of SBHCs in reducing disparities in MH care receipt among SBHC clients. Data from electronic health records of 5,396 youth ages 12 to 21 years who visited 14 SBHCs in one California county from 2021-2023 were analyzed in 2023-2024 using multiple logistic regression to assess disparities in MH care receipt and depression screenings. Receipt of MH care from SBHCs varied significantly by gender but not age, sexual orientation, or race/ethnicity. Compared to female clients, males had reduced odds (AOR: 0.50) and gender-diverse clients had higher odds (AOR: 2.70) of receiving MH care. For receipt of depression screenings, male clients had reduced odds (AOR: 0.86); Latino clients had higher odds than white clients (AOR: 1.80); and older adolescents and young adults had higher odds than younger adolescents (AORs: 1.44 and 1.45, respectively). Receipt of follow-up MH care after a positive depression result varied only by gender, with male clients having reduced odds (AOR: 0.63). SBHCs may reach youth who are traditionally less likely to seek care in other settings, including racially/ethnically- and gender-diverse youth. As in other settings, engaging males in healthcare is an area for improvement. These findings help to demonstrate the potential of SBHCs for decreasing disparities in mental health care.

Racially Minoritised Young People’s Experiences of Navigating COVID-19 Challenges: A Community Cultural Wealth Perspective

Abstract This article explores the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on racially minoritised children and young people. It draws on a study that investigated the factors that impacted the well-being and resilience of Black and Asian children and young people in the UK during the pandemic. The study employed a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews and focus groups with Black and Asian children aged twelve to nineteen years, to explore their perspectives of the contributing factors that impacted the health, well-being and the coping strategies and support they were able to draw upon to navigate challenges. The thematic analysis highlighted themes of: (1) Support and well-being and (2) coping strategies and resilience to understand the layered elements of multiple intersecting identities and inequities. The findings revealed insights into the intersection of multiple disadvantages, namely economic stressors, food poverty, digital inequality, disrupted education and disproportionate losses that impacted family functioning, peer-to-peer support, friendships and social connection. Through the lens of community cultural wealth, this article seeks to examine key factors that need to be foregrounded when lived experiences are rooted in the cumulative effects of multiple intersecting inequalities. The findings provide insights into the challenges exacerbated by structural inequalities and racial disparities that disproportionately impacted youth experiences.

Peer Bullying Victimization Trajectories for Sexually and Gender Diverse Youth from Early Childhood to Late Adolescence

Sexually and gender diverse (SGD) youth experience more peer bullying victimization than heterosexual, cisgender youth during adolescence, yet the emergence and persistence of these disparities remain underexplored. Also, it is unclear which factors are associated with these disparities across development, and how these disparities are linked to late adolescent health discrepancies. This study utilized the sample from the Millennium Cohort Study in Britain (N = 10,080; 51.3% assigned female at birth; Mage = 2.28, SDage = 0.46 at Wave 2), in which 23.74% of youth reported non-heterosexual attraction, 21.59% reported non-heterosexual identity, and 1.08% reported gender identity not in line with the sex assigned at birth. Using latent class growth modeling, four peer bullying victimization trajectories were identified, with early peak (7.2%), late childhood peak (6.3%), adolescence onset (12.8%), and low (73.6%) rates of victimization. SGD youth, compared to heterosexual and cisgender youth, were found to have increased odds of being in the victimization-involved classes, especially the adolescence onset class. The study further revealed that SGD youth reported more mental health and relational difficulties in childhood, which were linked to their heightened risk of longer-lasting victimization. Further, long-term victimization was found to partially account for the disparities in health and well-being for SGD youth in late adolescence. In conclusion, SGD youth were more likely to experience longer-lasting bullying victimization during childhood and adolescence, its related mental and relational vulnerabilities were already established in childhood, and such victimization disparities were further linked to their detrimental health and well-being in late adolescence. The design, hypotheses, and target analyses of the current study were preregistered on 21st April 2023 at https://osf.io/f2zxy.

Integrating developmental neuroscience with community-engaged approaches to address mental health outcomes for housing-insecure youth: Implications for research, practice, and policy

One in three children in the United States is exposed to insecure housing conditions, including unaffordable, inconsistent, and unsafe housing. These exposures have detrimental impacts on youth mental health. Delineating the neurobehavioral pathways linking exposure to housing insecurity with children’s mental health has the potential to inform interventions and policy. However, in approaching this work, carefully considering the lived experiences of youth and families is essential to translating scientific discovery to improve health outcomes in an equitable and representative way. In the current paper, we provide an introduction to the range of stressful experiences that children may face when exposed to insecure housing conditions. Next, we highlight findings from the early-life stress literature regarding the potential neurobehavioral consequences of insecure housing, focusing on how unpredictability is associated with the neural circuitry supporting cognitive and emotional development. We then delineate how community-engaged research (CEnR) approaches have been leveraged to understand the effects of housing insecurity on mental health, and we propose future research directions that integrate developmental neuroscience research and CEnR approaches to maximize the impact of this work. We conclude by outlining practice and policy recommendations that aim to improve the mental health of children exposed to insecure housing.

Preference for digital media use, biobehavioral attention bias, and anxiety symptoms in adolescents

Adolescence is a critical developmental period of biological and social change during which 1 in 3 youth experience significant anxiety symptoms. The social-emotional lives of the majority of adolescents are largely conducted via digital media use (DMU; e.g., social media, text messaging). Yet the past decade of research on DMU and anxiety has yielded mixed results (e.g., Keles et al., 2020 review), leaving the complex role that DMU might play in the emergence and maintenance of anxiety poorly understood. A key step forward is to leverage psychophysiology to identify individual differences in cognitive and emotional processes that confer vulnerability to potential negative effects of DMU. Further, given the ubiquity of DMU, a greater focus is needed on measurements that move beyond sheer frequency to capture DMU in comparison to face-to-face (FTF) social interactions. This study examined attention bias (AB), characterized by selective and exaggerated attention toward or away from threat, as a moderator of the link between DMU and anxiety in adolescents (N = 75; 42 female) aged 12–14 years (M = 13.28, SD = 0.87). AB was indexed during a dot probe task using reaction time metrics (i.e., trial-level bias) and via ERPs capturing attentional selection and discrimination (N170) and cognitive control (N2) to threat compared to neutral faces. AB moderated associations between DMU and anxiety. A greater preference to use DMU vs FTF predicted greater anxiety among those with a greater behavioral bias away from threat, blunted N170, and blunted N2 in the presence of threat. Future research should examine potential causal and bidirectional links between DMU and anxiety and explore whether preferences for technology-mediated interactions and individual differences in threat processing increase risk.

Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Single-Session Growth-Mindset Intervention for Internalizing Symptoms in Autistic Youth.

Autistic youth experience elevated rates of co-occurring internalizing symptoms. Interventions to treat internalizing symptoms in autistic youth are almost uniformly costly and time-intensive, blunting dissemination of intervention and highlighting the need for scalable solutions. One promising option is a relatively new class of evidence-based treatments, single-session interventions (SSIs), however, no study has examined SSIs for depression symptoms in autistic youth. Participants included 40 autistic adolescents ranging in age from 11 to 16 (Mage = 14.22, Nmale = 32). Eligible youth who agreed to participate were randomized to either the active intervention (Project Personality), or an active control designed to mimic supportive therapy. Participants and their caregiver completed questionnaires immediately before, after, and three months post intervention. All participants completed the intervention independently and largely reported enjoying it. The intervention was delivered with 100% fidelity. Findings demonstrated improvements in perceived primary control, malleability of personality, and social competence relative to the active control group immediately post-intervention. Further, results revealed improvements in self-reported depression symptoms and parent reported emotional regulation at 3-month follow up. This study was the first to assess a GM-SSI designed to treat depression symptoms in autistic adolescents. Results indicated improvements in perceived control immediately post-intervention and downstream improvements in depression. Nonetheless, we did not find improvements in symptoms of anxiety, suggesting that autistic adolescents may require modifications to the intervention to maximize benefit. Findings demonstrate the utility of GM-SSI for internalizing symptoms for autistic youth and hold considerable promise as a low-intensity and scalable intervention.

‘Trying differently’ towards improving school experiences: Systematically reviewing research on school experiences for students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and their teachers

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a complex brain-based developmental disability. Research on the experiences of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and their caregivers consistently highlights the difficulties and frequent exclusion they experience with the education system as one of the most stressful aspects of their lives. Previous studies have identified the need for more integrated approaches to support and learning for children with FASD that recognize the integral role of positive teacher-student relationships on student outcomes. A systematic review of existing research on the school experiences of children and youth with FASD and their teachers was conducted, and a critical iterative approach was used to interpret the data. Key findings are discussed, and important recommendations are made for researchers, policymakers, and educators to address the longstanding gaps in research and practice regarding the complex care and support needs of those with FASD from an anti-oppressive, destigmatized, and holistic framework.

Gender-Related Medical Experiences of Youth Who Have Detranstioned

ABSTRACT People whose gender does not align with their sex assigned at birth can undergo a medical transition process, so their body reflects their gender. However, some people interrupt this process temporarily or permanently, which is often referred to as “detransition.” Media coverage of detrans experiences tend to attribute this phenomenon to a lack of medical gatekeeping. However, research has shown detransitions are highly unpredictable. The aim of this article is to examine the medical experiences of youth who have detransitioned during various stages of the process from transition to today. Twenty-five interviews with 15–25-year-old youth who detransitioned were conducted. Thematic analysis led to the development of six themes: facing gatekeeping and invalidation during transition, accessing trans care, lacking adequate support during transition, finding support in detransition, lacking support in detransition, leaving the medical system. Our results question the usefulness of gatekeeping to prevent detransition and shows that it tends to erode the trust relationship between youth and practitioners and stifle gender exploration. Validation, support, information giving as well as exploration without constrain, or expectation of outcome seems to be a more helpful way forward to work with gender diverse youth.

Beyond Place: Youth Belonging and Language in the Third Space

AbstractPlace and place attachment have emerged as key concepts in the study of belonging within the field of youth studies in the last few decades. Yet these are limited lenses through which to understand the practices and experiences of youth belonging. In this article, I conceptually examine the possibility of belonging for young Australians navigating their everyday lives between cultures and languages, especially in circumstances where their connection to place is contested. I argue that this is an important task as Australia continues to globalise, as its society continues to diversify, and as a vast array of languages other than English continue to be practised in private and public spaces. Furthermore, I argue that research in youth studies must go beyond place-based conceptualisations of belonging to include the role of language in belonging, and to understand young people’s ways of being and belonging in the third space between cultures and languages. Ultimately, I propose that space should continue to be a serious consideration in youth studies and youth lives, and for there to be an emphasis on the role of language in the processes of negotiating identity and belonging.

Character strengths and resilience in adolescence: a developmental perspective

This commentary brings together thoughts on the papers in this special issue and integrates research on adolescent development, resilence, and positive youth experiences that promote character development. We apply the Protective and Compensatory Experieces (PACEs) framework to the papers in the special issue. We also discuss future directions for research and interventions promoting positive youth development and characters strengths.

Psychological and physiological experiences of youth watching Mukbang in China: A qualitative study

IntroductionMukbang is an emerging form of online entertainment of eating food and performance. Mukbang has become increasingly widespread among the youth. However, why the youth enjoy Mukbang and their specific experiences when watching the Mukbang remain unclear. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the reasons, experiences, and perceived influence of youth watching Mukbang. Materials and methodsThirty participants aged 14–35 years who had watched Mukbang in the past month were recruited online. The recruitment was conducted using a purposive sampling during March 13th to May 9th, 2022. We conducted a phenomenological descriptive qualitative study to explore the psychological experience of youth when watching the Mukbang. Semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or via telephone following an outline. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. ResultsFour major themes were identified: reasons for watching Mukbang, experiences while Mukbang watching, benefits of Mukbang watching, and harms of Mukbang watching. Each theme was divided into 12 subthemes. ConclusionsMukbang potentially alleviates mental health problems and stimulates appetite. However, the negative effects of long-term Mukbang watching should also be considered. Properly utilizing Mukbang-watching benefits and addressing its potential adverse consequences associated with prolonged exposure are crucial.

Motivation and Behaviors Related to Sport Specialization in Collegiate Baseball Players.

Early sport specialization is a growing concern among youth sport athletes, particularly in baseball. Motivation to participate in sports is an important factor in determining which sports youth athletes participate in and why. To qualitatively investigate the youth sport participation behaviors and motivations of collegiate baseball players. Qualitative study. Online teleconference. We conducted 25 semistructured interviews with collegiate baseball athletes who were classified as high-level (n = 8), moderate-level (n = 9), or low-level (n = 8) specialists before college. Participants completed individual semistructured interviews to allow us to develop an understanding of their youth and high school sports experiences and associated motivations to engage in those experiences. A framework analysis approach was used to analyze the transcript data and identify themes among the 3 specialization groups. From our interview analysis, 6 overall themes emerged: (1) motivation, (2) stress, (3) quitting, (4) barriers, (5) facilitators of success, and (6) future directions. Moderate- and high-level specialists described greater levels of passion, participating in deliberate practice, greater levels of performance-related stress, and more desire to quit sports than low-level specialists. None of the groups cited parents as an overbearing external motivator to participate in sport at an early age. Participants who were classified as low-, moderate-, or high-level specialists noted different experiences related to their motivation, stress level, desire to quit, barriers to participating in baseball, facilitators of success, and their overall future career goals after completing baseball. This information may be useful for parents, coaches, and health care professionals to better communicate the benefits and risks associated with sport specialization to youth athletes. Future research is needed to determine if differences in motivation levels exist in younger populations.

Perspectives on and Experiences With Bullying From Youth With Neuromuscular Conditions.

Aim: To understand the bullying experiences of youth with neuromuscular conditions. Method: Fourteen participants with neuromuscular conditions (10 male; 10-19 years old) participated in semistructured interviews that were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Four overarching themes were identified: (1) participants experienced stigma-based bullying; (2) participants exhibited resilience despite bullying victimization; (3) participants identified personally and theoretically helpful and unhelpful supports with regard to bullying; and (4) participants proposed bullying interventions. Interpretation: Individuals with neuromuscular conditions had unique experiences and perspectives on bullying. This qualitative study provides health care professionals with insight into the bullying experiences of patients with neuromuscular conditions. Findings highlight the role for formal and informal education to mitigate stigma-based bullying and increased opportunities for peer support as a protective factor against bullying.

Social Workers as Allies? Gender Confirming Practices and Institutional Limitations in Youth Residential Homes

AbstractPrevious research shows that LGBTQ+ youth are over-represented in out-of-home care and that especially transgender and non-binary youth face challenges during their placement. These challenges stem from, among other factors, the lack of knowledge and competence of professionals regarding the unique needs of transgender and non-binary youth. In Sweden, there are policies that aim to protect transgender and non-binary youth from discrimination and to promote their sexual and reproductive health and rights, and an increasing number of residential homes claim to have LGBTQ competence when competing for placements. However, it is unclear how this affects the everyday experiences of trans and non-binary youth at residential homes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the practices and challenges of clinical social workers at residential care homes when working with gender identity and sexual health issues among young transgender and non-binary youth. Eight semi-structured interviews focusing on professionals’ knowledge and experiences were conducted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: i) Knowledge being a personal matter; ii) Heteronormativity and binarity creating consequences; iii) Handling discrimination and harassments; and iv) Creating a trustful alliance. The results show that knowledge is a personal matter, and social work professionals seek the knowledge they need instead of receiving it in education or training. The contextual heteronormativity and binarity creating consequences at the residential care home pose challenges for social workers and they have to find creative ways to support transgender and non-binary youth and address the harassments and discrimination that these youth face. Moreover, the social workers share their strategies regarding how they are creating a trustful alliance. Overall, they identify significant challenges to developing clinical social work that is affirming of transgender and non-binary youth.

Prenatal Exposures, Diagnostic Outcomes, and Life Experiences of Children and Youths with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Children and youths diagnosed with FASD may experience a range of adverse health and social outcomes. This cross-sectional study investigated the characteristics and outcomes of children and youths diagnosed with FASD between 2015 and 2018 at the Sunny Hill Centre in British Columbia, Canada and examined the relationships between prenatal substance exposures, FASD diagnostic categories, and adverse health and social outcomes. Patient chart data were obtained for 1187 children and youths diagnosed with FASD and analyzed. The patients (mean age: 9.7 years; range: 2-19) had up to 6 physical and 11 mental health disorders. Prenatal exposure to other substances (in addition to alcohol) significantly increased the severity of FASD diagnosis (OR: 1.18): the odds of FASD with sentinel facial features (SFF) were 41% higher with prenatal cigarette/nicotine/tobacco exposure; 75% higher with exposure to cocaine/crack; and two times higher with exposure to opioids. Maternal mental health issues and poor nutrition also increase the severity of FASD diagnosis (60% and 6%, respectively). Prenatal exposure to other substances in addition to alcohol significantly predicts involvement in the child welfare system (OR: 1.52) and current substance use when adjusted for age (aOR: 1.51). Diagnosis of FASD with SFF is associated with an increased number of physical (R2 = 0.071, F (3,1183) = 30.51, p = 0.000) and mental health comorbidities (R2 = 0.023, F (3,1185) = 9.51, p = 0.000) as compared to FASD without SFF adjusted for age and the number of prenatal substances. Screening of pregnant women for alcohol and other substance use, mental health status, and nutrition is extremely important.

An exploratory study of stressors, mental health, insomnia, and pain in cisgender girls, cisgender boys, and transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth.

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth experience more stressors and are therefore at a higher risk of health problems compared with their cisgender peers. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of TGD youth in a general population sample and to explore a wide variety of health-related factors. We investigate differences in stressors and health outcomes between TGD youth and cisgender girls and boys and the influence of stressors and demographic factors on health outcome in the whole group. Cross-sectional survey data from a Swedish school-based study were used (N = 3,067, M = 17.8 years). Those who had reported their gender identity as "other" or other than their assigned gender (N = 41) were compared with cisgendered girls (n = 1,544) and boys (n = 1,482). Regression models in the whole group explored if demographics and stressors statistically predicted health outcomes. In comparison with cisgender girls and boys, TGD youth (1.3% of the whole sample) reported a higher prevalence of self-harm and pain problems. Both TGD youth and cisgender girls more frequently reported insomnia, social anxiety, depressive symptoms, pain, and stressors compared with cisgender boys. When only demographic variables were entered, but not when stressors were added to the model, being TGD magnified the odds of depressive symptoms, sub-diagnostic social anxiety, and pain problems. Stressors magnified the odds of reporting health problems for the whole group. TGD youth generally reported more stressors, which negatively influence health outcomes. Results are important for professionals who meet TGD youth.