Youth In Taiwan Research Articles

Positive youth development of Tayal and Han adolescents in Taiwan: A cultural and structural perspective.

Using the Five Cs model of positive youth development (PYD), this study aimed to provide a socio-structural and cultural understanding of PYD in Indigenous Tayal youth by examining the specificity in the development of Five Cs (Competence, Confidence, Character, Caring, and Connection) between Tayal and Han youth in Taiwan. A sample of 847 Tayal and Han adolescents (43.8% Tayal, 47.9% girls, Mage = 14.83, SD = 0.50) were drawn from a larger study (September 2014 to August 2017). Adolescent participants completed questionnaires asking about their Five Cs, contribution behavior, and depressive symptomatology. Measurement invariance was conducted to explore specificity between Tayal and Han youth's Five Cs performance. A bi-factor Five Cs model was identified and partial metric and partial scalar measurement invariance was established between the two samples. Across both groups an overarching PYD factor, which was associated with increased contribution and lower depressive symptomatology, was identified. Specificity was observed in the Tayal sample, particularly relating to indicators of Competence, Character, Caring, and Connection. The findings of this study provide a sociocultural-informed lens regarding the specificity of development in Tayal youth. Character, Caring, and Connection appear to contribute significantly more to the overall PYD for Tayal adolescents than their Han peers. Findings relating to Competence suggest that the educational environment may not be aligned with the learning style of Tayal youth. This study has policy and practical implications for Tayal youth, and can further help inform program development in Taiwan and internationally.

Relationships between Food Insecurity, Self-Efficacy, and Changes in Body Mass Index among the Youth in Taiwan: Analysis from a Longitudinal Cohort Survey.

Food insecurity is a heightened concern among economically disadvantaged youth, and it may contribute to the atypical body mass index (BMI) patterns frequently observed in this group. Self-efficacy seems to intervene in the negative impacts of contextual restraints. This study investigated the relationship between food insecurity, self-efficacy, and BMI trajectory among economically disadvantaged Taiwanese youth. We utilized three-wave longitudinal data from the Taiwan Database of Children and Youth in Poverty. The Food Insecurity Score (FIS) assessed food insecurity with a 4-item scale measuring reduced meal frequency, hunger, skipping meals, and economic constraints. Moreover, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) assessed self-efficacy, showcasing the ability to handle stress effectively and envision success scenarios, contributing to positive outcomes. By employing latent growth modeling, we were able to delineate the impacts of baseline food insecurity and self-efficacy on initial BMI and its subsequent growth trajectory. Elevated baseline FIS significantly predicted higher initial BMI (coefficient = 0.420, p = 0.042). Baseline GSES was negatively associated with initial BMI (coefficient = -0.093, p < 0.001) but positively predicted the BMI growth rate (coefficient = 0.023, p = 0.011). Enhancing self-efficacy may be an effective multidisciplinary intervention to address psychosocial and socioeconomic factors when tackling weight problems in vulnerable youth groups.

Radiant Reflections: Crystal Boys, Rose Boy, and Taiwan's Queer History

“The essay delves into Taiwan's queer history through the lens of two pivotal events: the "Rose Boy" Incident and the publication of the groundbreaking novel, Crystal Boys. It explores the interconnectedness of these events and their lasting impact on Taiwanese society's perception of LGBT individuals. Crystal Boys, authored by Pai Hsien-yung in the repressive era of martial law, dared to depict the lives of gay men in Taipei's New Park, challenging societal norms and censorship. The New Park emerged as both a refuge and a perilous space for the gay community, where they formed bonds amidst societal oppression. The essay also discusses the subsequent activism sparked by Crystal Boys, leading to milestones like the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. Conversely, the tragic death of Ye Yongzhi, dubbed the "Rose Boy," exposed the harsh realities faced by LGBT youth in Taiwan, igniting societal outrage and calls for change. Through literary analysis and historical context, the essay illustrates how art and activism intersect to shape queer narratives and propel the fight for equality in Taiwan and beyond.”.

Understanding the Dynamics of Unwanted Online Sexual Solicitation Among Youth in Taiwan: Vulnerability and Resilience Factors.

The rise in online sexual exposure and solicitation among youth has heightened concerns. Youth, due to their limited socio-cognitive capacity, face greater risks of online sexual victimization compared to adults. Unwanted online sexual solicitation (UOSS) is a concerning aspect of sexual victimization, encompassing requests for unwanted sexual talks, activities, and sharing personal sexual information or images online. This study, based on target congruence theory, examined UOSS risk and protective factors using a national-representative youth sample in Taiwan. In 2020, 19,556 students (Grades 5-12, average age 15, 50% male) participated in the school-based online survey. Hierarchical linear regression was used to determine the significance of UOSS predictors. Findings revealed a 15.4% prevalence of UOSS. Accounting for age and gender, target-vulnerability variables (self-esteem, bullying victimization, psychological distress) and target-gratifiability variables (online self-disclosure, time spent online) significantly linked to UOSS. Youth who were bullied, had greater psychological distress and online self-disclosure, and increased Internet use were prone to UOSS, while self-esteem mitigated risks. Bullying victimization and online self-disclosure were the strongest correlates of UOSS in Taiwan's youth, followed by psychological distress, Internet usage, and self-esteem. In sum, this study enriches the understanding of UOSS among Taiwanese youth and suggests strategies to prevent online sexual victimization. Enhancing self-esteem, promoting social media education including online privacy and self-disclose, tackling bullying, addressing psychological distress, and furnishing relevant services are crucial preventive measures. These findings offer guidance to parents, educators, and health professionals for supervising and steering adolescents' online conduct, presenting an evidence-based framework to avert online sexual victimization.

R-HEALS: A Doctrinal-Experiential Discipleship Model for Indonesian Youth in Taiwan in the Postmodern Era

Social interaction is one of the factors that determine a person’s spiritual growth. The social interaction style of today’s youth has been influenced by postmodernism. Postmodernism has changed the way humans socialize to become fluid as a result of the emphasis on relativism. One of the countries affected by postmodernism is Taiwan. This is shown by the development of the cohabitation lifestyle and the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan as part of the relativism and human rights championed in postmodernism. Thus, postmodernism can seep in and threaten the spirituality of Christian students from Indonesia in Taiwan. GBI Taiwan Zhongli responded to this threat by formulating a discipleship model called R-HEALS (Reached, Healed, Equipped, and Heals). This study aims to explore the experience of R-HEALS discipleship participants and its impact on them in facing postmodernism. The method used in this research is a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. The research data was taken from two students who have followed the R-HEALS discipleship model for at least one year. It was found that the doctrinal-experiential aspect of the R-HEALS discipleship model helps young people resist the current postmodernism, even in a liberal country like Taiwan. It can be concluded that R-HEALS can help the church in contributing to restraining the postmodern lifestyle of young Indonesians studying in Taiwan.

Generational Consciousness and Political Mobilisation of Youth in Taiwan

This article is a contribution to theoretical reflection on the notion of generation applied to the study of youth in Taiwan. Starting from the polysemy of this concept, which has remained problematic for the social sciences since the nineteenth century, it shows that beyond the simple demographic cohort, the young people born in the 1980s and 1990s form a new “actual” generation, in the sense of Mannheim, i.e. characterised by objectively distinctive traits and a generational consciousness that contrasts with their elders. It also seeks to explain the process of formation of this generational consciousness and its implications for political mobilisation.

Lessons Learned From A Community-Based Participatory Research Study with At-Risk Youth in Taiwan

Lessons Learned From A Community-Based Participatory Research Study with At-Risk Youth in Taiwan

Youth and Political Music in Taiwan: Resignifying the Nation at Inland Rock and Tshingsan Fest

This article uses musical events in Taiwan to examine the changing contestation of Taiwanese politics. It shows how youth activists remake political practices by connecting people to constructions of local culture through musical performances. Whereas civil society and youth participation in Taiwan's elections have attracted increased scholarly attention, this article focuses on politically charged activities outside election campaigns. The article sources politics in musical practices, highlighting localized reproductions of global genres of popular music and its significance for Taiwanese youth activism. Drawing on historical analyses of the development of Taiwanese music throughout the twentieth century as localizing global influences in the production of indigenized music, the author argues that music has been more than just a communicative medium for contesting establishment politics, because activists use it to resignify sociocultural symbols and practices in productions of Taiwanese identity. The author examines two 2016 music festivals, Inland Rock and Tshingsan Fest, to analyze active constructions of identity and political action through a framework of music as politics. It demonstrates how, by appropriating space and symbols of Nantou County and Monga district for new cultural festivities, activists reterritorialized physical and conceptual terrain to reconnect people to indigenized constructions of Taiwanese identities.

PRS11 - Association Between Anti-Tobacco Campaigns and Quit Intention Among Youth in Taiwan

This study assessed the relationships between contact with anti-tobacco information and quit intention among Taiwanese adolescents. Data was obtained from the self-administered Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), which has been conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan for the period from 2014 to 2016. Participants included students aged 12–18 years who used cigarettes in the previous 30 days. The dependent variable was anti-tobacco campaigns. We controlled for the following variables: year of survey, gender, grade, monthly income/allowance, parents’ and close friends’ smoking statuses, use of e-cigarette and other tobacco products, access to free tobacco products, and access to help quit smoking. The prevalence of intentions to quit smoking conventional cigarettes decreased from 62.54% to 59.57% in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Smokers who encountered anti-tobacco media messages (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.03 to 1.10), attended classes about the dangers of tobacco (OR=1.20, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.23), thought about quitting smoking after seeing health warnings on cigarette packages (OR=4.32, 95%CI 4.16 to 4.46), and/or received help to quit smoking (OR=2.72, 95%CI 2.63 to 2.81) were more likely to have intended to quit cigarette smoking. Smokers who used other tobacco products (OR=0.68, 95%CI 0.66 to 0.70) and obtained free cigarette (OR=0.76, 95%CI 0.73 to 0.80) were negatively associated with attempts to quit smoking. The anti-tobacco media messages, health warnings on cigarette packages, tobacco hazard courses, and advice from others are important factors in correlating whether intention to quit smoking. We recommend that the government continue promoting smoking cessation programs in the media, funding courses on the hazards of tobacco, controlling advertising and promotion of cigarettes, and maintaining health warnings on cigarette packages.

Post-materialism: What Divides Youth in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China

Post-materialism is a value orientation that gives priority to freedom of expression and participation in public affairs over fulfilment of material needs such as economic and physical security. Youth in Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China have significantly different levels of post-materialist values, with Hong Kongers scoring the highest and Mainlanders the lowest. These differences have led to their different political orientations.

Why do they become potential cyber-plagiarizers? Exploring the alternative thinking of copy-and-paste youth in Taiwan

With the expansion of digital content, academic integrity has been facing the growing threat of cyber-plagiarism. In the present research, we address young Taiwanese students' perceptions of cyber-plagiarism. Our research included two related studies: in study 1, we collected data through a national survey on a probability sample of 41,911 (4th–12th graders) and analyzed the prevalence and alternative thinking about cyber plagiarism among these students; in study 2, we collected 113 young students' anonymous questionnaires inquiring into the reasoning that the students applied to their own use of online resources for homework. The results of our research show that the prevalence of frequent copy-and-paste students was less than 3% of the surveyed 4th–12th graders in Taiwan. Moreover, we have found that copy-and-paste practices were more prevalent among the 10th and 12th graders than among students in the other grades, and that more male students than female students engaged in copy-and-paste behavior. We have also found that these students’ concept and their ways of using Internet information properly seem incorrect. We suggest that educators implement copy-and-paste prevention curriculum throughout elementary, junior high, and high schools. We offer teaching advice for the prevention of cyber plagiarism, encouraging educators to teach students appropriate ways to resolve copy-and-paste problems.

Predictors of unwanted exposure to online pornography and online sexual solicitation of youth.

This study examined factors associated with the unwanted exposure to online pornography and unwanted online sexual solicitation victimization and perpetration of youth in Taiwan. A total of 2315 students from 26 high schools were assessed in the 10th grade, with follow-up performed in the 11th grade. Self-administered questionnaires were collected. Multivariate analysis results indicated that higher levels of online game use, pornography media exposure, Internet risk behaviors, depression, and cyberbullying experiences predicted online sexual solicitation victimization, while higher levels of Internet chat room use, pornography media exposure, Internet risk behaviors, cyberbullying experiences, and offline sexual harassment predicted online sexual solicitation perpetration.

Psychological distress in an incarcerated juvenile population.

This study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among incarcerated youth in Taiwan using the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5). This cross-sectional census survey study was conducted in 2007 among all the juveniles incarcerated in 23 correctional institutions (n = 1505) in Taiwan using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Of the total 1505 participants, 1363 completed the questionnaire (91% response rate). We excluded 494 participants as they were aged either over 17 years or under 12 years. Psychological distress was measured among the final 869 participants using the BSRS-5. Psychological distress was defined as a total score of at least 6 out of 20. Those identified as having psychological distress were then pooled into a case group and compared with control participants without psychological distress. The prevalence of psychological distress was 44.1%. Among the case group, sleep disturbance (36.8%) had the highest prevalence of severe or very severe symptoms, followed by depression (34.7%), and hostility (27.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that correlates of psychological distress included the following: being female; having a poor self-rated health status; having joined a gang; having experienced life disturbances prior to the current imprisonment; and having ever had a smoking habit. Significant sex differences were found for both the overall BSRS-5, as well as for each individual item of the BSRS-5. Treatment programs and interventions should be carefully tailored to address the mental health needs of juvenile inmates in a sex-specific manner using a multifaceted approach.

Differential factors predicting first and repetitive suicide attempts among youth in Taiwan: a population-based study

Differential factors predicting first and repetitive suicide attempts among youth in Taiwan: a population-based study

Smoking Beliefs and Behavior Among Youth in South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand

Beliefs about smoking are important predictors of smoking behavior among adolescents, and adolescents who hold positive beliefs about the benefits of smoking are at an increased risk of smoking initiation. An alarming fact is the rising smoking prevalence in Asian countries, particularly the increasing trend in smoking during adolescence. This cross-sectional study examined smoking beliefs and behavior among a nationally representative sample of youth in South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Descriptive statistics, linear regression, and logistic regression methods were used to analyze data from 13-15-year-old adolescents who participated in the 2005 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in South Korea (N = 4,765) and Thailand (N = 15,420) and the 2007 GYTS in Taiwan (N = 3,955). The rate of ever smoking among youth was similar in all three countries and ranged from 26.7 to 28.0 %. The prevalence of current smoking among youth in Thailand (11.4 %) was nearly double the prevalence in South Korea (6.6 %) and Taiwan (6.5 %). Pro-tobacco advertising exposure, as well as older ages, was a positive and significant predictor of positive beliefs about smoking among youth in all three countries. Additionally, youth who reported increased positive smoking-related beliefs, greater pro-tobacco advertising exposure, and were male were more likely to be current smokers in all three countries. Results suggest that greater attention be directed to understanding beliefs and attitudes about smoking among youth. Exploring the relationship between these factors and smoking behavior can provide a strong starting point in the development of effective smoking prevention interventions and tobacco control policies in this region.

Effects of a Community Prevention Intervention on Public Awareness, Knowledge, and Risk Perception of Club Drug Use by Youth in Taiwan

This study evaluated the effects of mobilizing community coalitions and implementing prevention intervention concerning public awareness, knowledge, and perception of the risks associated with club drug use by Taiwanese urban youth. A quasi-experimental design was used. Three communities in Taipei city were included in the present study. A total of 328 residents successfully participated in the baseline survey (April 2008), and 276 residents were successfully interviewed for the follow-up survey (September 2008). The generalized estimating equation (GEE) method was used. The percentage of the intervention respondents who reported having seen or heard antidrug messages increased significantly between the time of the baseline survey (63.7%) and the follow-up survey (77.4%), while the percentage of attendance at antidrug events increased from 23.1% to 38.7% during the same time interval. In addition, community knowledge and perception of the problem of club drug use by youth rose significantly between the baseline and the follow-up in the intervention communities. The study's limitations are noted.

A study of the entrepreneurship of Taiwanese youth by the Chinese Entrepreneur Aptitude Scale

PurposeThe purposes are as follows. First, this paper aims to explore the reliability and validity of the Chinese Entrepreneur Aptitude Scale (CEAS) and to establish a normative score among surveyed students. Second, this paper seeks to compare the scaling scores differences between the genders, departments, and classes in the sample. Finally, this paper aims to compare the student sample's CEAS results with models of Taiwanese entrepreneurial youth.Design/methodology/approachCompleted questionnaires from 1,053 students from the Transworld Institute of Technology in Taiwan and the CEAS, constructed by Chen and Wu, formed the basis of the empirical analysis.FindingsThis paper tests the performance of the CEAS for Taiwanese students at a technological institute that puts entrepreneurial education into practice. The results match those of Chen and Wu, which used qualitative methods to conduct a content analysis of the biographies of models of entrepreneurial youth in Taiwan. Both groups rank high in autonomy and self‐discipline, indicating that entrepreneurial models and potential entrepreneurs have a high sense of mission and responsibility to society. And, this paper finds significant differences between the two groups; the entrepreneurial models rate higher overall on CEAS constructs than the institute students. In particular, the sample students score low on social networking, indicating that the undergraduates lack social and networking experience.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this paper has been to test the applicability of the CEAS in Taiwanese Institute of Technology students, including comparisons between genders, grades, and colleges. The results offer insights for institutes and universities seeking to improve their entrepreneurial education offerings. Moreover, the results offer lessons for fostering entrepreneurial abilities and behavioral traits in undergraduates.

Susceptibility to initiate smoking among junior and senior high school nonsmokers in Taiwan

Objectives Most smokers begin using tobacco in their teens and recent reports indicate that smoking prevalence is climbing among youth in Taiwan. The purpose of this paper was to determine the associated factors of susceptibility of youth smoking by different types of schools. Methods A total of 4689 junior high students and 3918 senior high students participated in a school-based survey to determine the associated factors of susceptibility of youth smoking through anonymous self-administered questionnaire in 2004–2005. Results Susceptibility to initiate smoking ranged from 11.3% for junior high to 12.7% for general senior high and 12.4% for vocational senior students. For all/male smoking-susceptible students, more junior high students had one or more parents or best friends who smoked than did general or vocational senior high students. For all/female smoking-susceptible students, significantly more junior high students experienced secondhand smoke in public places than did non-susceptible students. Conclusions Developing tailored, comprehensive smoking-prevention programs for junior high students should involve establishing tobacco-free households and communities.

Alcohol Use and Health-Related Quality of Life among Youth in Taiwan

Purpose To examine the extent to which the use of the three most commonly consumed drugs in Taiwan (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, and betel nut) is related with health-related quality of life among adolescents. We probe whether the relationship linking alcohol use with health-related quality varies by health-orientated domains (e.g., physical, social, or emotional) and if it differs with other drug involvement. Method The data for this study come from a representative sample of 2235 adolescents (aged 12–18 years) collected as part of the 2001 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted in Taiwan. Recent alcohol, tobacco, and betel nut experiences were assessed by face-to-face interview. The 36-item short form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess respondents’ generic health status. Results Youth with recent alcohol use tend to experience a poorer level of health-related quality of life. The estimated associations were not constant over the eight domains of general health examined, and multivariate modeling with generalized linear models and generalized estimating equations found that the strongest inverse relationship appears in the domain of role limitation due to emotional problems (β = −10.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −16.9–−4.12, p < .001). Greater deleterious effects were not found among youth also using tobacco and/or betel nut. Conclusions Alcohol use was shown to be associated with impaired levels of health-related quality of life in adolescents. Although the temporality between alcohol involvement and lower levels of mental health is not explicit, the findings suggest that youth who are actively drinking might be a possible target group to intervene and avert mental health-related problems.

Employment experience in relation to alcohol, tobacco, and betel nut use among youth in Taiwan

The aim of this study is to assess the association linking employment experience with alcohol, tobacco, and betel nut involvement among youth in Taiwan. In 2004, an outreach program was conducted during weekdays to recruit youth sample in seven major geographic regions. A total of 5886 youth aged 12–18 years drawn from 26 cities or towns were assessed by a two-page anonymous self-administered questionnaire, including sociodemographic characteristics, employment-, development-, and drug-related experiences. In Taiwan, youthful experience of alcohol, tobacco, and polydrug use varies by employment status, work intensity, and job type. Holding a full-time job and working in certain settings (e.g., grocery, restaurants) were found associated with an excess of drug-using behaviors. With taking age, male gender, family context, disposable allowance, and school attendance into account, working youths were two to four times as likely to have recent drug involvement than their non-working counterparts, especially for tobacco and polydrug (OR = 3.32, 95% CI: 2.58–4.27, p < 0.001; OR = 3.76, 95% CI: 2.76–5.13, p < 0.001). Youths in the labor force emerge as a subgroup experiencing greater use of alcohol, tobacco, betel nut, and polydrug. Future prevention programs may target this high-risk group to reduce possible drug-related negative consequences in developmental and health domains in Taiwan.