Youth Involvement Research Articles

Qualitative Exploration of Cultural Influence on a Rural Health-Promotion Initiative

ObjectiveTo develop a conceptualization of cultural influence on perceptions of a rural food and physical activity policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change project to inform public health research and practice. DesignBasic qualitative research design, semistructured phone interviews with community health coalition members. SettingFive rural Southern counties (obesity prevalence > 40%). ParticipantsThirty-nine community coalition members. InterventionThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention High Obesity Program. PSE initiatives to increase access to healthy food and physical activity opportunities through a community coalition model. Phenomenon of InterestSocial norms and cultural influences surrounding community members’ food preferences, physical activity behavior, and future hopes for community development. AnalysisAbductive content analysis. ResultsMajor categories on food social norms (subcategories: physical health, eating habits, and food preference), race relations, generational factors, physical activity social norms, and hopes for the community (subcategories: increased engagement, health, awareness, cohesion, and inspiration) were discussed in relation to the progress of PSE initiatives. Conclusions and ImplicationsBecause of community member perceptions, PSE initiatives became associated with factors beyond food and fitness, such as race relations, generational differences, and community cohesion. A focus on increased youth and church involvement, community values, relationship building, and input from diverse voices can be foundational to culturally-appropriate PSE efforts in rural settings.

Exploring adolescents’ perspectives on and experiences with post-primary school-based suicide prevention: a meta-ethnography protocol

BackgroundGlobally, suicide is the fourth leading cause of adolescent mortality. Although post-primary school-based suicide prevention (PSSP) interventions are an evidence-based strategy for targeting adolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), PSSP effectiveness does not easily translate to school settings. Adolescents’ perspectives on PSSP are particularly important for (1) intervention effectiveness and implementation in both research and practice, (2) addressing PSSP evidence-practice gaps, and (3) enhancing meaningful adolescent involvement in PSSP, yet there is a gap in understanding adolescents’ experiences of engaging with PSSP. As such, this protocol outlines a meta-ethnography which will explore and synthesize adolescents’ perspectives on engaging with PSSP interventions, as participants/end-users, intervention advisors, facilitators, and co-designers and co-researchers.MethodsThe meta-ethnography protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. The protocol was guided by the seven-stage process for meta-ethnography proposed by Noblit and Hare. Searches of PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, ERIC, Scopus, and study reference lists will identify peer-reviewed studies. Gray literature will be identified by searches in ProQuest, British Library EThOS, and DART-Europe E-theses Portal. The main reviewer will initially assess the eligibility of studies based on title and abstract, with full texts reviewed by at least two reviewers. Findings of the included studies will be synthesized in line with Noblit and Hare’s stages and evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first proposed meta-ethnography to explore and integrate the findings of qualitative studies exploring adolescents’ perspectives on engaging with PSSP interventions. Understanding adolescents’ experiences of engaging with PSSP will impact the field of PSSP in several ways by (1) enhancing research processes and intervention effectiveness and implementation, (2) informing decision-making and policymaking relevant to practice, (3) guiding meaningful adolescent involvement in PSSP, and (4) contributing to knowledge on the safety implications of engaging adolescents in PSSP. Finally, it is expected that the insights from this meta-ethnography will be widely applicable, given the growing demand for meaningful youth involvement in health-related fields.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42022319424.

Youth involvement in policy processes in public health, education, and social work: Protocol for a scoping review.

The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and impact of youth involvement in policy processes within public health, education, and social work. Youth involvement in policy processes may enhance the relevance of policies and strengthen democratic practices. This scoping review aims to explore the nature, extent, and impact of youth involvement in policy processes in public health, education, and social work, with a focus on health, well-being, and obesity prevention. Empirical studies published from 1989 and evaluating involvement of youth aged 10 to 19 years old from all socioeconomic backgrounds and countries. Studies will be searched in seven databases. Data will be extracted and synthesized narratively by rights-based perspectives on youth involvement, practical processes of the involvement, and social experiences using descriptive statistics and visuals.

Overweight and obesity prevention for and with adolescents: The "Confronting obesity: Co-creating policy with youth" (CO-CREATE) project.

The CO-CREATE project focuses on the need for research on obesity prevention in adolescents to move away from studies of single interventions, toward the investigation of systems-based research incorporating youth involvement. This paper provides an overview of the project, presenting the objectives, design, and novel methodologies applied, as well as findings to date and anticipated outcomes. Adolescents (16-18 years old) in five European countries participated. Methods applied in the project include monitoring and benchmarking of policies, systematic literature reviews, epidemiological surveillance, linking observed overweight and obesity trends to observed policy landscapes, group model building to identify perceived drivers of obesity, alliance building with adolescents, dialog with stakeholders, and system dynamics modelling to explore the potential impact of policy options. Outcomes include tools for developing policy ideas and investigation of prevention strategies with adolescents, including policy databases, system maps of drivers of obesity, protocols for organizing youth alliances, an intergenerational policy dialog tool, and system dynamic models exploring the impacts of cocreated policy ideas. These outcomes make an important contribution to building a pan-European infrastructure for designing and evaluating policies and for providing youth with the opportunity to make their voices heard in the development and implementation of obesity prevention measures.

The Role of School and Community Involvement in the Psychosocial Health Outcomes of Black and Latinx LGBTQ Youth

PurposeLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identified (LGBTQ) youth of color face poorer psychosocial health outcomes than their non-LGBTQ peers. Research suggests school-based and community activities promote psychosocial health for LGBTQ youth, but study samples are predominantly White. This study tested whether school enrollment and seven community activities were associated with LGBTQ community connectedness, happiness, and health among Black and Latinx LGBTQ youth. MethodsThis study used a subsample of Black and Latinx LGBTQ adolescents and young adults (N = 472) from the Social Justice Sexuality project. Mean differences in study variables were examined across intersectional racial/gender identity categories. Multiple regression analyses assessed the association of school enrollment and community activities with psychosocial health outcomes, accounting for covariates. ResultsSocial activities for LGBTQ people (ß = 0.19) and LGBTQ people of color (POC; ß = 0.15) were associated with greater LGBTQ connectedness. While moderate religious services attendance (ß = −0.13) was associated with lower LGBTQ connectedness, high attendance was associated with greater happiness (ß = 0.13) and health (ß = 0.12). Social activities for LGBTQ-POC (ß = 0.13) were also associated with better health. School enrollment was not significantly associated with any outcomes and Latinx transgender and diverse youth had the lowest happiness and health. DiscussionSocial activities for LGBTQ people and LGBTQ-POC may play a role in the social connectedness and health of Black and Latinx LGBTQ youth, while frequent religious service attendance may support health and happiness. Schools and faith institutions should ensure their institutions are welcoming to LGBTQ youth. Public health workers might facilitate the involvement and inclusion of LGBTQ youth, while policy should support funding for community activities.

Informal Institutional Characteristics and Youth Involvement in Agribusiness Entrepreneurship in Fako Division, Cameroon: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

This study aims at examining the role of informal institutional characteristics on youth involvement in agribusiness entrepreneurship activities in the Fako division of the South West Region of Cameroon. Data were collected with the use of a self-administered questionnaire. Questionnaires were administered using a stratified sampling technique. The target population was youths between the age of 18 to 35 years old who are involved in any agribusiness-related activity for commercial purposes. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of 500 youths but only 451 of the questionnaires were returned without any error. We adopted a partial least square structural equation modeling technique (PLS-SEM) using SamrtPLS4.0. The findings revealed that the custom of the Fako people has a positive relationship with youth involvement in agribusiness entrepreneurship activities in the Fako division (β = 0.230, p < 0.000). However, the attitude of youths toward agricultural-related activities has a negative relationship with youths’ involvement in agribusiness entrepreneurship in the Fako division (β= –0.025, p < 0.560). Meanwhile, land tenure norms/fragmentation have a positive relationship with youths’ involvement in agribusiness entrepreneurship (β = 0.301, p < 0.,000), and traditional non-working days show a positive relationship with youths’ involvement in agribusiness entrepreneurship in Fako (β=0.274, p < 0.000).Serious attention should be given to influencing the attitude of youths toward agribusiness-related activities through sensitization programs such as organizing special agropastoral shows only for young people and other radio and TV programs.

Effects of social media on youth involvement in livestock production in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract Youths are the highest consumers of ICT and they are currently using Social Media (SM) to stir interest, ask questions, and solve constraints in agricultural enterprises. Youths’ participation in livestock enterprises through social media is increasing because they are not capital-intensive and can be practiced in their residences. Hence, the effects of SM on youth involvement in livestock production (LP) were investigated. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 150 respondents, and a questionnaire was used for data collection and analysis using percentages, mean, standard deviation Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), and t-test at p ≤ 0.05. Findings revealed that respondents had 1–5 years of experience (47.3 %), were efficient in computer literacy (53.3 %), and involved in LP before SM utilisation (6.7 %). Websites (X¯ = 1.83), YouTube (X¯ = 1.69) and WhatsApp (X¯ = 1.65) were the most available SM platforms. Many respondents (88.9 %) were operating on a low scale of LP, while a few (11.1 %) were on a medium scale before SM utilisation. The deployment of SM increased respondents with a medium scale of LP (from 11.1 % to 53.3 %) and decreased respondents with a low scale of LP (from 88.9 % to 30.0 %), while 10.7 % of respondents were characterised by a large scale of LP. Power supply (X¯ = 2.51) and cost of data (X¯ = 2.43) were the major challenges to the use of SM for LP. A significant relationship (r = 0.531, p = 0.025) existed between the use of SM and the level of LP. Significant differences existed between the level of LP before (0.804 ± 1.021) and after the use (1.340 ± 1.000) of SM. Hence, SM boosted youths’ involvement in agriculture, raised LP, and consequently decreased unemployment rates. Solar energy, cheap data, and favourable financial schemes for young farmers should be made available.

Materials and Methods for Recruiting Systematically Marginalized Youth and Families for Weight-Management Intervention Trials: Community Stakeholders' Perspectives.

Rates of overweight and obesity are problematic among systematically marginalized youth; however, these youth and their families are a hard-to-reach research population. The purpose of our study was to identify facilitators and barriers for recruiting systematically marginalized families in youth weight-management intervention research. This study built upon existing evidence through involvement of youth, parents, community agency workers, and school nurses, and an exploration of both recruitment materials and processes. Seven focus groups were conducted with 48 participants from 4 stakeholder groups (youth, parents, school nurses, and community agency workers). A codebook approach to thematic analysis was used to identify key facilitator and barrier themes related to recruitment materials and processes across the stakeholder groups. Ecological systems theory was applied to contextualize the facilitators and barriers identified. Participants reported the need to actively recruit youth in the study through engaging, fun recruitment materials and processes. Participants reported greater interest in recruitment at community-based events, as compared to recruitment through health care providers, underscoring the depth of distrust that this sample group has for the health care system. Recommendations for recruitment materials and processes for weight-management intervention research with systematically marginalized families are proposed.

The Role of Self-Projection in the Youth Involvement into the Space of Life Fulfillment

The Role of Self-Projection in the Youth Involvement into the Space of Life Fulfillment

Primena ustanove okrivljenog saradnika kao mogući faktor podsticaja mladih na organizovani kriminal

In this paper, the legal institution of judicial and prosecutorial practice an accused accomplice as a potential factor in inciting young individuals to organized crime. In organized crime, law enforcement agencies instead of individuals deal with a well-structured organization with a solid internal hierarchy, discipline, high level of conspiracy, elaborated strategy, and tactics of concealing criminal activities and evading criminal responsibility. A legal establishment known as "accused accomplice" has been established into Serbian judicial and prosecution system in an effort to identify members of criminal organizations, their associates, and organizers. It's possible that at some point, given the advantages promised to alleged accomplices, youth involvement in organized crime would be encouraged. The research's goal is to determine how students perceive the accused accomplice legal institution as a possible inducement for young people to join organized crime. It is assumed that teenage involvement in organized crime may be encouraged by the rewards promised to members of these organizations for cooperation with the law enforcement. A study was carried out in March 2023 on a sample of 96 high school students, as described in this report, to ascertain this. All research hypotheses were supported by the data obtained using the Scaler - LIJPP - AA - PFIIYTOC (a = .762) and examined using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and analysis of variance. The importance of the analyzed legal institution in the struggle against corruption, terrorism, and organized crime cannot be denied. As a result, it is widespread throughout the world. On the other hand, if there are findings indicating the researched legal institution has a negative impact on the upbringing of children and youth, the question of whether there is room for its existence emerges. By reassessing or implementing the accused accomplice legal institution in a way that won't adversely effect children's and youths' upbringing, a compromise solution must be sought.

Paradigm Shift in the Political Landscape of Pakistan

Background: In Pakistan, the political landscape is an essential component that has gained attention from youth involvement. Keeping in view the current situation in Pakistan various factors have resulted in the youth’s political engagement. Research Aim: The goal of this study is to explore the dynamic of the paradigm shift in the political landscape of Pakistan. Methodology: A quantitative-based research, the sample was gathered through a random sampling technique from 200 youngsters in Pakistan. The data was investigated using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: The results showed that technological, social, economic, cultural, and global factors influence the engagement and participation of youth in political matters. Social media has been shown as a major platform for providing political awareness and mobilization. Conclusion: The engagement of youth in politics resulted in creating awareness regarding social and political matters, it was suggested that an increase in participation will increase political efficiency.

Comparative Evaluation of 2 Work Experience Approaches for Predominantly Black Youth in a Rural Community: Implications for Public Health Workforce Development.

In order to create a more diverse workforce, there is a need to involve historically excluded youth in public health-related work. Youth involvement in asset-based work experience approaches is especially relevant for rural areas with workforce shortages. To explore the public health workforce development implications of community-based career exploration and asset mapping work experience from the perspective of Black youth. We used qualitative in-depth interviews with youth, aged 14 to 22 years, who participated in a work experience program anchored in several rural counties in southeastern United States. A phenomenological lens was applied for qualitative analyses with iterative, team-based data coding. Participants were also surveyed pre- and postprogram to supplement findings. A rural community-based organization's work experience program consisted of 2 tracks: (1) Youth Connect-a career exploration track that included work placement within community agencies; and (2) MAPSCorps-a track that employs youth to conduct asset mapping for their community. We interviewed 28 of 31 total participants in the 2 tracks. We uncovered 4 emergent profiles in how youth described shifts in their perceptions of community: (1) Skill Developers; (2) Community Questioners; (3) Community Observers; and (4) Community Enthusiasts. In comparing between tracks, youth who participated in work experience that involved asset mapping uniquely described increased observation and expanded view of community resources and had greater increases in research self-efficacy than youth who participated only in career exploration. Asset mapping work experience that is directly placed in rural communities can expose Black youth to and engage them in essential public health services (assessing and mobilizing community assets) that impact their community. This type of program, directly integrated into rural communities rather than placed near academic centers, could play a role in creating a more diverse public health workforce.

Ato Infracional na Adolescência: Revisão Integrativa dos Estudos na Perspectiva da Teoria Geral da Tensão

The General Strain Theory (GST) argues that situations/circumstances likely to generate tension foster negative emotions which, in turn, may create conditions for adolescents to manifest antisocial behaviors/offences as a coping strategy and/or as a way to relieve tension. An integrative literature review was conducted, with the objective of systematising and synthesising findings of studies, based on the GST, published in the last 11 years, aiming to circumscribe the contributions of this referential. The search was conducted on the Academic Search Premier, Web of Science and PsycINFO, with the keywords “General Strain Theory” AND “Juvenile delinquency”. To include the study into the review, the criterias were to have: (1) adolescents as target audience; (2) outcome variable “offences”; (3) GST as referential; (4) and being empirical. Fifty-four studies were selected. The results were organized into the following categories: (a) Sources of tension (events/situations likely to generate tensions, linked to the structure/functioning of society, community characteristics, school and family, linked significantly to involvement in offending, but also to other outcomes); (b) The different sources of tension by gender (in parallel with the common sources: romantic break-ups, financial stress and criminal victimisation); (c) Mediators and Moderators (anger, as predicted by the GST, is the main mediator; strong social bonds and positive family relationships stand out as moderators). The GST contributes by shedding light on the various sources of tension that permeate adolescent development and on the subjective dimension of emotions that may underlie the involvement of youth in offending. However, the relationships between tension and offending must be critically interpreted.Keywords: General Strain Theory, infractions, adolescence, emotions, literature review

Гражданское участие молодежи в регионе: возможности и ограничения

The problem of activating the potential of youth in territories’ development, the transi tion of their latent resources (opportunities) into the actual state of the driving force of social change at the regional level is of particular relevance for public and scientific discourse. From the standpoint of the activist paradigm, young people are seen as a significant subject of territorial development through their involvement in various practices of civic participation. The purpose of the article is to identify the opportunities and limitations of youth civic participation in the development of territories. The authors determine that a favorable institutional environment for the young people’s civic participation is being created in Russian society, however, there are problems in the implementation of youth policy both at the national level and in the regions. Based on the methodology of quantitative sociology (the authors developed a toolkit for a sociological survey, which was tested on the territory of the Vologda Oblast in 2021, N=1900), it was revealed that young people, demonstrate their willingness to civic participation to a greater extent than the population of the region as a whole, but they are somewhat less likely to be included into real practices of socially useful activity. The authors concluded that both political (in vertical interaction with the authorities) and social participation of young people (in the space of everyday  life) is realized primarily in informal (one-time or spontaneous) practices. It is determined that the demotivating reasons for the young people’s engagement in  the civic participation practices in the regional space vary from institutional to social and psychological qualities of the individual. By the example of the Youth Center “GOR.COM35” (Vologda), it is shown that the youth center is a complex structure or a new model of “public-state partnership” that creates conditions for the development of civic participation of young people in the region. The materials presented can form the basis of sociological diagnostics of the level, potential,  and barriers to youth involvement in socially useful activities in order to further develop the priorities of youth regional policy and effectively build the  work of youth organizations.&nbsp

Media Educational Contents as Determinants of Youths Involvement in the Nigeria Political Activities

Media Educational Contents as Determinants of Youths Involvement in the Nigeria Political Activities

Diagnosing the process for preventing youth involvement in extremist groups (on the example of Moscow)

Diagnosing the process for preventing youth involvement in extremist groups (on the example of Moscow)

Управление эффективностью вовлечения молодежи в научно-исследовательскую деятельность

Research skills are important and relevant for management, because they allow to make informed decisions. The involvement of young people in science is very relevant in our country today and requires a set of activities with initiatives and projects of talented heroes in the field of research and development. The management of the process of organizing research activities begins with the support of the country's leadership, which, increasing the level of popularization of scientific activity, announced the next period 2022-2031, the decade of science and technology in Russia. Therefore, in his article, the author examines the effectiveness of youth involvement in research activities at different levels, starting from school, obtaining professional education, admission to postgraduate and doctoral studies. The results of the work are based on the relevant approaches reflected in the authors' publications published in the abstract database eLIBRARY for 2018-2023, to the definition of the concept of the effectiveness of youth involvement in research activities. Summarizing the opinions of scientists, the author compiled a classification of indicators, which formed the basis of the author's model of managing the effectiveness of the organization of research work of students and the author's standard system for evaluating the effectiveness of student involvement in research work, can be adapted to any organization (scientific, educational or industrial), correcting the proposed or adding their own criteria and assessments.

Młodzieżowa rada gminy jako narzędzie partycypacji obywatelskiej młodzieży na przykładzie Gminy Wielka Wieś

Over time, they are more and more tools emerging to increase civic participation of young people at the local level. A form of manifestation of a given phenomenon are the Youth Municipal Council. As a result of their activities, young people stand a chance to gain valuable experience and consider the shape of local government policy. In Poland, there are already over 400 Youth Municipal Councils in which there are active members who want to make a real contribution and influence the local environment. There is a noticeable great potential for youth involvement, which, if properly used, can significantly increase the participation of young people in decision-making processes and, in the longer term, contribute to increased participation in political life. This article will present the example of the Youth Municipal Councils as a form of youth participation on the example of the Wielka Wieś Commune. The article focuses on several issues. Do young people share the idea of civic participation and want to take part in promoting it, and in what areas does the youth, through Youth Councils, influence changes in their local environment and what are the consequences of this? At the same time, it tries to verify the research hypothesis that the functioning of the Youth Municipal Councils – including the Wielka Wieś Commune, contributes to the strengthening and dissemination of the idea of civic participation among young people. Young people, gain- ing even marginal influence on the shape of the regulation at an early stage of its creation, will be more likely to become involved in its implementation later. The methodological core of the work is the analysis of the literature on the subject, good practices and partial research results related to the subject of the article among councilors from the Youth Municipal Councils in Wielka Wieś.

How Are Leadership Programs Empowering Our Vulnerable Children and Youth? A Scoping Review

Globally vulnerable populations are negatively impacted by policy and practice. For vulnerable youth, risks to growth, development, and a lack of participation in decisions about their lives are common. Leadership programs are frequently implemented to address the risks faced by vulnerable youth. This review sought to describe the goals, content, and outcomes of existing youth development programs to better understand if they are meeting the needs of vulnerable youth. A scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR methodology. Ten electronic databases and grey literature were searched. A total of 89 youth development programs were identified. The goals, content, and outcomes of the programs were thematically analyzed. Four foci emerged, namely, youth, relationship, community, and social justice-focused development. A youth focus was most commonly represented, and the social justice focus was the least represented. Most programs addressed only one focus area. If youth development programs are to provide youth with both the skills to engage with and opportunities to change their circumstances, then all four focus areas need to be included. Secondly, a need for the active involvement of youth in both the planning and implementation of programs was identified. Finally, safeguarding needs to be highlighted in any program working with vulnerable youth.

Political discussions lead to political efficacy among students in Indonesia

Student unions based on religious and political affiliations are of paramount importance in political decision-making around the globe and in Indonesia particularly. The involvement of youth in political arenas and narrative building has become a debated topic among academicians, scholars and policymakers. In the context of Indonesia, the association of youth with religious groups has been seen as very important for engaging them in capacity-building initiatives (students in particular) and in political activities by mobilizing them with general communities. The present study examines the phenomenon of political efficacy through the political participation of youth associated with different religious and political groups. In consideration of the nature of the study, the present research tried to accomplish the desired outcomes by employing a quantitative research design and carrying out surveys. For that purpose, a self-administered questionnaire was developed with the help of literature for gathering data. The data were gathered from students and the general public, focusing on the premise that political discussion and religious group affiliation can be instrumental for political efficacy. The research found that the affiliation of students with religious groups has a strong impact on their involvement in political activities. Along with various political and religious factors, social media is considered a decisive factor in forming youth's political opinions and developing a sense of community engagement as well as practising their political rights. The data also show that there is a significant relationship between political efficacy and social media, highlighting that the participation of students in political discussion leads to political efficacy by mobilizing youth with general communities to create a discursive political environment.