Ontario Youth Research Articles

Religion and Ethnicity among Sri Lankan Tamil Youth in Ontario

The paper presents survey and interview data from twenty-five Sri Lankan Tamil youth in Ontario, specifically dealing with the interaction between religion and ethnicity, the experience and expression of religion, the importance of religion, as well as the importance of the Tamil language for religious and ethnic identity. Herbert Gans's ideas about "symbolic ethnicity" and "symbolic religiosity" are used to explore the ways in which Tamil youth in Ontario interact with their ethnic and religious heritage. Many express their ethnicity through seemingly mundane acts such as wearing a sari to a family gathering, eating with their hands, and watching Tamil movies. Many are losing their proficiency in the Tamil language, but see it as essential for their ethnic identity. Many only attend a Hindu temple three to five times per year, but see it as essential for passing on their cultural heritage to their children. In other words, much of their ethnic and religious identity is constructed through a symbolic transnationalism. The research, although preliminary, begins to fill gaps in scholarship on the Sri Lankan Tamil population in Canada, as well as the role of religion in the lives of immigrant youth. Cet article présente les résultats d'une enquête et d'entrevues faites auprès de vingt-cinq jeunes Tamouls sri-lankais en Ontario, et portant particulièrement sur l'interaction entre la religion et l'ethnicité, à savoir : l'expérience et l'expression de la religion ainsi que son importance, tout comme celle de la langue tamoule concernant l'identité religieuse et ethnique. Nous nous appuyons sur les notions d'«ethnicité symbolique» et de «religiosité symbolique» d'Herbert Gans pour explorer la manière dont les jeunes Tamouls ontariens composent avec leur héritage ethnique et religieux. Plusieurs d'entre eux expriment leur ethnicité de manière banale, comme de porter un sari à une réunion de famille, de manger avec la main ou de regarder des films tamouls. D'autres perdent leur capacité de parler couramment le tamoul, mais voient dans leur langue un facteur essentiel de leur identité ethnique. D'autres encore n'iront que trois ou quatre fois par an au temple hindou, mais y voient un élément fondamental du passage de leur héritage culturel à leurs enfants. En d'autres mots, ces jeunes construisent la plus grande partie de leur identité ethnique et religieuse à travers un transnationalisme symbolique. Bien que ce travail ne soit que préliminaire, il commence à combler les lacunes de la recherche universitaire en ce qui concerne la population tamoule au Canada ainsi que le rôle de la religion dans la vie des jeunes immigrants.

HIV Risk, Systemic Inequities, and Aboriginal Youth

In Canada, Aboriginal people are overrepresented in the HIV epidemic and infected at a younger age than non-Aboriginal people. This paper discusses some of the ways Aboriginal youth in Toronto understand HIV/AIDS risk and the relevance of their comments for HIV prevention education. This research is part of a larger study conducted with Ontario youth through the Gendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP) project. We conducted 11 GAAP focus groups with Ontario youth. This paper focuses primarily on the four groups of Aboriginal youth. A modified grounded theory approach guided analyses. Data were coded using Nud*ist qualitative data management software. Aboriginal youth were more aware of HIV/AIDS and the structural inequities that contribute to risk than their non-Aboriginal counterparts. In addition, they were the only group to talk about colonialism in the context of HIV in their community. Aboriginal youth were, however, more likely to hold a fatalistic view of their future and to blame their own community for high infection rates. We argue for incorporating structural factors of risk, including the legacy of colonialism, in HIV prevention programs for all youth. This may help to eradicate the stigma and self-blame that negatively impact on Aboriginal youth while allowing other youth populations to distance themselves from the disease.

Community-Based Interventions for At-Risk Youth in Ontario under Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act: A Case Study of a “Runaway” Girl

This article presents findings from ongoing research on interventions for violent and at-risk youth in Ontario through partnerships authorized under Canada's 2003 Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). After briefly describing and theoretically situating the YCJA's “preventative partnership” ( Garland 2000 ) strategy, we analyse an interview with a 16-year-old Ontario high school student (one of 85 interviews with female and male youth recruited through high schools, community agencies, youth advocacy networks, and correctional facilities between 2002 and 2006). In this interview, “Connie” describes her experiences with family and peer violence and her efforts to deal with these experiences through a range of escape and help-seeking behaviours. Drawing broadly upon governmentality discourses on advanced liberal governance, our analysis focuses on the ways in which victimization, running away, child protection involvement, criminal activity, and social exclusion are linked. We also discuss the promises and challenges of efforts to address the needs of youth caught up in this trajectory through community partnership strategies.

Young people and work injuries: an examination of jurisdictional variation within Canada

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors of work injuries among Canadian adolescents and young adults and to examine provincial differences in work injury rates. Methods:...

“Supposed to make you better but it doesn’t really”: HIV-positive youths’ perceptions of HIV treatment

Purpose Half of new HIV infections worldwide occur among young people. Youth, particularly young women aged 15–29 years, represent a growing population to experience HIV. This study investigated HIV-positive youths’ perceptions of, and experiences with, antiretroviral treatment. Methods A community-based, participatory approach was used to conduct a mixed methods research study. Thirty-four qualitative, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with HIV-positive youth (ages 12–24 years) in Ontario, Canada. Brief structured demographic surveys were also administered. A research team of HIV-positive youth, professionals, and researchers collaboratively analyzed the data for emerging themes. Results Four major themes emerged: Treatment knowledge: confusion and skepticism. Many participants did not understand, or believe in, antiretroviral treatment. Some youth on treatment did not understand why they were taking medications. Treatment decision-making: lack of choice and feeling emotionally unprepared. Some youth did not feel that they had choices about treatment, and others did not feel ready to make treatment decisions. Difficulties taking medications. Youth had problems with social routine disruption, feeling “different” and side effects. Many viewed costs of medications as a barrier to treatment. Inconsistent treatment adherence and treatment interruptions, which were common amongst participants. Conclusions Youth may need support for managing difficulties with treatments, such as side effects, social impacts, and adherence. Developmentally appropriate, empowerment-based treatment education may be helpful for HIV-positive youth. The availability of social programs to provide treatment access does not guarantee that youth will be aware of them. This may indicate a need for youth-specific outreach.

Dares to Addiction

Over the past decade, there has been a rapid growth of gambling in Canada and internationally. Although youth are a potentially vulnerable group, little is known about what they understand and if they are being affected by the recent increase in gambling.This study examined how youth view gambling using an inductive qualitative research design and analysis based on grounded theory principles. Twelve focus groups were conducted comprising 103 participants (median age = 15 years) with diverse representation of Ontario youth. Focus-group questions were designed to capture youth's experiences and opinions about gambling.Youth participants defined a spectrum of gambling from a dare and friendly betting to legalized forms of gambling (lotteries, casinos) and addiction. Their opinions varied according to age and gambling type. For example, daring and friendly betting were identified as positive activities used by younger adolescents to relieve boredom and establish social relationships. Gambling was separate from daring because of its association with money. Many participants had minimal awareness of the potential negative impact of gambling. Information technology (Internet) was seen as an attractive medium for playing games and gambling where no money was involved.Lack of awareness of gambling among youth and its consequences underscores the need for public education. The diverse range of gambling behaviour and age-dependent access to money need careful consideration in defining youth gambling "problems" and in designing public health interventions.

Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents with a Disability: Methodology and Effects of Age and Gender

To date, very little published information has been available on the physical activity participation of disabled youth. A questionnaire, which was modified from the Canada Fitness Survey, was distributed by mail to physically disabled, sensory impaired, and chronically ill children and adolescents in Ontario, Canada. Nine hundred eighty-seven responses were collected from subjects 6 to 20 years of age, with a response rate of 58%. Twenty-nine percent of physically challenged youth were found to be sedentary, and 39% were active. Activity levels were significantly related to age (p < .01), with a marked decline in the second decade of life. Activity levels were not significantly influenced by gender, but the data suggest that girls have lower activity levels and a faster and earlier decline in activity than boys. Overall, the data collected provide baseline information on the role of physical activity in the lives of Ontario youth with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and chronic illnesses.