Youth In Urban Areas Research Articles

Study of Factors Affecting Attitude Formation Towards Labor Market Offer of Albanian Youth in Urban Areas

This paper is a study result of Albanian youth, living in rural areas, attitude toward qualities of employment offer. This is a selective attitude. Salary / monthly income insured by the offer prevail on its formation. Psycho-social and emotional attitude is similar to that of an individual who is trying to get an employment to provide immediate needs for life. Age, educational level, family economic level, previous experiences of labor market and gender are factors that constrain the attitude of young people towards employment offer. In particular, education is the factor with the greatest impact on it. Private business sector is valued by young people as the main operator of labor market and as the preferable one. Public sector is preferred by young people with university education. Educational system development policies, which will provide youth education by giving priority to their technical and professional performances according to labor markets developments, is in line with young people expectations for employment. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n2p337

Digital Divide amongst Urban Youths in Malaysia – Myth or Reality?

The Digital Divide is an important issue with serious consequences, both for the individuals affected and society. With 90% of youths in urban areas using the Internet, there is a myth that the Digital Divide no longer exists amongst urban youths. Based on a random survey of 1639 youths, this study analyses the possibility of a digital divide along ethnic lines in Malaysia.. Findings indicate there are significant ethnic-based differences in home PC ownership and Internet connection. There are further concerns that the digital divide is further widening because of the quantity and quality of access. Multivariate analysis reveals that Chinese youths are online for twice the duration of Malays and Indians. However, higher Internet usage may be a two-edged sword as higher Internet use are intertwined with higher risks and negative activities such as violent games, pornography, and gambling. The article also discusses various means to mitigate the risks of Internet usage.

The impact of adverse childhood experiences on an urban pediatric population

Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in youth in a low-income, urban community. Study design Data from a retrospective chart review of 701 subjects from the Bayview Child Health Center in San Francisco are presented. Medical chart documentation of ACEs as defined in previous studies were coded and each ACE criterion endorsed by a traumatic event received a score of 1 (range = 0–9). This study reports on the prevalence of various ACE categories in this population, as well as the association between ACE score and two pediatric problems: learning/behavior problems and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 85% (i.e., overweight or obese). Results The majority of subjects (67.2%, N = 471) had experienced 1 or more categories of adverse childhood experiences (ACE ≥ 1) and 12.0% ( N = 84) had experienced 4 or more ACEs (ACE ≥ 4). Increased ACE scores correlated with increased risk of learning/behavior problems and obesity. Conclusions There was a significant prevalence of endorsed ACE categories in this urban population. Exposure to 4 or greater ACE categories was associated with increased risk for learning/behavior problems, as well as obesity. Practice implications Results from this study demonstrate the need both for screening of ACEs among youth in urban areas and for developing effective primary prevention and intervention models.

도시와 농산어촌 아동청소년의 복지와 여가수준 비교연구

목적: 본 연구는 도시의 아동청소년의 복지 및 여가 수준을 농산어촌 아동청소년과 비교하고, 아울러 그들의 삶의 만족도에 주는 요인을 규명하는 것이다. 연구방법: 한국청소년정책연구원에서 생산하고 있는 제4차 청소년패널 데이터를 활용하였다. 표 본수는 총 3,145이었고, 평균 연령은 17세(고2)이었다. T-test와 다중회귀분석이 분석에 사용되었다. 결과: 거의 모든 복지관련 변수에서, 삶의 만족도, 여가만족도, 부모애착, 교사 및 학우관계, 농산어촌 아동청소년은 도시 아동청소년에 비해 낮은 점수를 나타내었다. 비록 도시 아동청소년이 농산어촌보다 높은 스트레스와 학업부담을 갖고 있기는 하지만, 그들의 복지수준은 농산어촌보다 높다고 할 수 있다. 왜냐하면 그들의 스트레스는 곧 도시 아동청소년의 밝은 미래를 보장하기 때문이다. 농산어촌 아동청소년이 도시에 비해 높은 점수를 보이고 있는 유일한 변수는 지역요인에 있었다. 삶의 만족도를 설명하는 가장 영향력 있는 변수인 여가수준에 있어서도, 농산어촌 아동청소년은 불리한 상황에 있다. 농산어촌에는 여가시설에의 접근도가 낮고, 여가시설 자체가 부족하기 때문이다. 결론: 농산어촌 아동청소년의 복지와 여가수준을 제고하기 위한 방안으로 본 연구에서는 농산어촌에 대한 인프라 확충과 다양한 프로그램 제공을 제안하였다. 한편 도시 아동청소년에게 부족한 자연체험활동을 위해서 농산어촌 학교와 도시학교와의 자매결연을 맺는 방안을 제안하였다. Objectives: This study compared the welfare level and leisure activities of children and the youth in urban areas with rural areas, and examined factors affecting their life satisfaction. Methods: The fourth wave of the Youth Panel data collected by the Korea Youth Policy Institute has been utilized. A total of 3,145 sample was drawn, and the average age of the sample was about 17 years old (a sophomore in high-school). T-test and multiple regression has been employed. Results: In almost all welfare related variables including life satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, parent attachment, and relationship with teachers and peers, the rural children and youth showed lower scores than their urban counterparts. The only factor whose score was higher to the rural children and youth was community factor including community attachment and guidance. In terms of leisure (satisfaction) level which was the most influential factor of predicting the variance of life satisfaction, the rural children and youth revealed unfavorable condition, as their accessibility to the facilities was low and there were less facilities in rural areas in the first place. Conclusions: As a way to improve the welfare and cultural level of rural children and youth, this study proposed to make investment to the rural areas by providing them with welfare and leisure infra structure and various welfare and leisure programs. To improve the outdoor leisure activities of the urban children and youth, setting up a sisterhood between urban and rural schools has been suggested.

Urban American Indian and Alaska Native Youth: Youth Risk Behavior Survey 1997–2003

To examine the prevalence of health risk-behaviors among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth in urban areas. Data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) for the years 1997-2003 were used for the analyses (Urban sample = 52,364). The YRBS is a self-report questionnaire administered to a sample of 9th-12th grade students intended to monitor health risk-behaviors. "Urban" is defined as areas within a Metropolitan Statistical Area. Whites are used as the comparison group for the examination of AI/AN estimates. Urban AI/AN youth represented 1% of the urban sample (N = 513). The presence of a number of risk-behaviors were at least threefold higher in AI/AN compared to white youth in urban areas, including suicidal behaviors, feeling unsafe at school and needing medical treatment from a fight. Other factors were over twofold higher among AI/AN, including sexual behaviors, illegal drug use, violence at school, and experiences of rape, assault and pregnancy. The higher prevalence of health risk-behaviors in urban AI/AN compared to white youth reflects a need for interventions focused on urban AI/AN youth.

The Miami, Florida, Young Men's Survey: HIV Prevalence and Risk Behaviors Among Urban Young Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Have Ever Runaway

Youth in urban areas with a history of running away from home often have special needs. Importantly, risk factors for HIV/AIDS might be associated with such a history. We assessed the association between having a history of running away from home and the occurrence of HIV infection and risk behavior among young men who have sex with men (YMSM), aged 15-22 years. A cross-sectional epidemiologic and behavioral survey was conducted between 1995 and 1996 in Miami, Florida, as part of a national Young Men's Survey. Of 488 YMSM, the prevalence of HIV infection among those with a history of running away from home was 10.5% (adjusted odds ratio=3.4; 95% CI 1.5-7.8). YMSM who had ever run away were more likely to be HIV infected, be out of school, and have ever had vaginal or anal sex with females, been forced to have sex, injected drugs, and used needles for self-tattooing or body piercing. The prevalence of HIV infection and associated risk behaviors among runaways was high, highlighting the ongoing need for prevention and social support services for youth with a history of running away from home.

Evaluation of Outcomes for Adolescents Receiving School-Based Mental Health Services

Youth in urban areas have been effected by a reduced availability of mental health services and increased contact with serious risk factors. School mental health (SMH) programs may be an optimal avenue for providing services to these youth who otherwise might not receive treatment. In this pilot study, we examined change in adolescent reports of behavioral and emotional functioning for youth receiving SMH services in inner-city schools. Results indicate minor improvements, but not clinically significant changes in functioning at 12- and 18-month follow-ups. Youth identified as having a greater number of resilience factors were more likely to remain in and complete therapy. Adolescents reported feeling satisfied with their treatment; high satisfaction was positively related to perceptions of clinicians as being warm, caring, and exhibiting positive regard for them.

Poverty, Neighborhood Danger, Social Support, and the Individual Adaptation Among At-Risk Youth in Urban Areas

This article examines the relative contribution of measures of objective and subjective neighborhood danger and measures of social support from neighbors, teachers, parents, and friends on the individual adaptation of at-risk youth in two urban areas in the southeastern United States. In support of earlier research, the findings suggest that the adaptation of these youth is influenced more by the availability of social support, especially from parents, than from their reports and perceptions of neighborhood danger. Results are discussed in the context of a recent national public opinion poll about young adults at risk.

Youth and National Urban Policy: The Florida Experience

: Throughout the 1980s conditions worsened for children and youth in urban areas throughout the US. Lacking a national youth policy, formulation and implementation of youth policy has been left to the states and localities. One of the most innovative youth policy responses was enacted in Florida where the state authorized the creation of children's services councils at the county level. This paper traces the efforts of Florida's urban counties to develop programs, strategies, and the use of special tax districts that target unmet needs and children's issues. The Florida legislation and the experience of local governments offer one approach for other states and localities, as well as a model for national youth policy.

Low Income Youth in Urban Areas: A Critical Review of the Literature.

Low Income Youth in Urban Areas: A Critical Review of the Literature.