Search Results (164)

Participation in organized sport is widely encouraged for youth development, yet positive outcomes are not guaranteed. Parents play a pivotal role in shaping young athletes’ experiences, requiring emotional support, interpersonal skills, and self-regulation. This study examines the meanings parents attribute to their children’s sports participation and how young athletes construct their experiences under parental and coaching influences. An interpretive phenomenological methodology involved semi-structured interviews with coaches, focus groups with parents, and open-ended questionnaires to young athletes. Seventeen players (M = 11.2 years, SD = 0.59), nineteen parents (M = 47.6 years, SD = 3.61), and two coaches from the same football club volunteered to participate in the study. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure a homogeneous experience. The findings reveal that parental involvement balances support and pressure, while trust-building between parents and coaches significantly impacts the athletes’ experiences. The evolving role of technology and the importance of social dynamics within teams also emerged as critical factors. Intrinsic motivation, fostering emotional bonding through the sport, and adopting a developmental rather than purely competitive framework were emphasized factors identified as supporting positive youth sport experiences. These findings offer insights into how interconnected relationships among parents, coaches, and athletes influence children’s sports engagement and development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sexual health research involving young adolescents remains scarce despite rising rates of early sexual debut, pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in this population. We explored community stakeholders’ perspectives on engaging young adolescents in sexual health research in Western New York to inform strategies for engaging young adolescents in sexual health research. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted from April 2022 to June 2023. Seventeen community stakeholders, including health education teachers, youth counselors, and adolescent health providers, participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis, managed by MAXQDA 2020. The rigor and trustworthiness of the data were ensured through triangulation with observations, peer debriefing, team analysis, and respondent validation. Results: Participants were predominantly female (94.1%), 52.9% Black/African American, 41.2% White, and 5.9% Caucasian–Indian American, and aged 23–59 years. Four themes emerged: perspectives on conducting sexual health research with young adolescents, recruitment strategies, sexual health questions appropriate for young adolescents, and building readiness for participation in sexual health research. Participants reported the need for sexual health research with young adolescents and recommended building a trusting relationship and involving schools, parents, and trusted community organizations in the research process. Suggested research questions included those related to awareness of sex, STIs, available resources, experiences with sexual education, and desired support. The findings also revealed the need to initiate sexual health conversations early when children start asking questions, as a foundation for meaningful participation in sexual health research. Conclusions: The findings suggest that sexual health research with young adolescents is feasible and necessary, with implications for the design of developmentally appropriate sexual health research and interventions grounded in trust and community collaboration. Future research should explore the perspectives of caregivers and young adolescents to inform studies and programs that are attuned to young adolescents’ developmental needs. Full article

Background: Youth tobacco use remains a significant public health concern, particularly in urban communities disproportionately burdened by health disparities. In Baltimore City, where tobacco-related harms are elevated, understanding the relationship between tobacco use—including e-cigarettes—and mental health among high school students is essential for guiding equitable prevention and cessation strategies. The CEASE (Communities Engaged and Advocating for a Smoke-free Environment) program, in collaboration with the American Lung Association’s Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) initiative, developed an online school-based survey to inform community-responsive interventions. Aims: This study aimed to examine the associations between cigarette use, including conventional cigarette use, and self-rated mental health among high school students in Baltimore City. Methods: High school students in Baltimore City completed an anonymous online survey that assessed demographic characteristics, tobacco knowledge and use, mental health, and related behaviors. Self-rated mental health was dichotomized as poor versus fair/good. Tobacco use categories included current use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between tobacco use and self-rated mental health, adjusting for age, gender, race, and parental education. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results: No statistically significant associations were found between self-rated mental health and e-cigarette use and conventional tobacco use after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: The absence of a significant association may reflect unique aspects of the social context in Baltimore City, where youth may not use tobacco products as a coping mechanism for mental health challenges. Alternatively, it may be due to limitations in measurement, particularly the use of a single-item mental health assessment. These findings should be considered preliminary. Future research using more comprehensive mental health measures and larger samples is warranted to further explore these complex relationships. Full article

Amidst the health and socioeconomic burdens COVID-19 placed on families, communities of color also grappled with heightened xenophobia and racism. Yet, adolescents also found silver linings in the form of spending time with family and engaging in activities promoting relaxation and leisure. The present study examined parent-adolescent relationship quality (RQ) as a moderator of the relations of Latinx youth’s environment (i.e., racial-ethnic discrimination, COVID-19 stress, and COVID-19 silver linings) on their anxiety and depressive symptoms, both concurrently and six months later. Participants included 135 Latinx adolescents (M_age = 16.00, SD = 1.27; 59.3% female; 85.2% U.S.-born). Path analytic models revealed that youth discrimination experiences were positively associated with youth symptomatology, whereas COVID-19 silver linings and positive RQ were negatively associated with youth symptomatology. We also found that at mean and higher levels of negative RQ, discrimination experiences were positively associated with concurrent anxiety symptoms, suggesting that negative relationship features (e.g., conflict, pressure) exacerbated the effects of discrimination on youth anxiety. Therefore, stressors may predict youth symptomatology concurrently, but cultivating a positive parent-adolescent relationship and encouraging finding silver linings may bolster resilience in Latinx youth across time amidst adversity. Full article

All too often, the Sport for Development (SfD) field minimizes talent development and competition in lieu of youth development. In this article, we deconstruct assumptions about what is important for young people who are marginalized to learn and experience as they grow up, along with the role of talent development and competition in an SfD intervention, by centering their stories. The young people featured in these stories experience marginalization because of their race, ethnicity, and parents’ country of origin (outside the United States), among other factors that play a role in their everyday lives, and yet their stories highlight the symbiotic relationship between talent development and youth development. Full article

Ensuring equitable access to higher education (HE) is not only a matter of social justice, but also a critical component to enhancing the long-term sustainability of modern societies. This study contributes to existing knowledge on socio-economic disparities in HE participation in Australia by identifying the extent to which key factors at the family, school, and individual levels mediate the relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and university enrolment. In doing so, it extends existing knowledge by simultaneously considering multiple factors at each ecological level, which enables us to disentangle their independent and joint influences on the SES differential in HE enrolment. To accomplish this, we analysed longitudinal data from the 2009 cohort of the Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth (LSAY) using event-history models. Our findings reveal that students from lower-SES backgrounds are significantly less likely to enrol in university than their higher-SES peers, with persistent barriers emerging across multiple levels of influence. Indeed, after adjusting for cognitive skills, HE expectations, parental support, school climate, and access to learning resources, the estimated SES effect on HE participation was reduced by 68.6%. By systematically disentangling the relative contributions of these factors, this study provides critical insights into how sustainable education policies can be designed to mitigate social inequalities and promote inclusive growth. Intervention areas are discussed accordingly. Full article

Youth sport research has routinely suggested that sport has the potential to serve as a meaningful context for learning. particularly when programs are designed to promote positive youth development (PYD) outcomes. Indeed, participation in sport-based PYD programs has been shown to lead to the development and transfer of life skills. Yet, even given the growth of sport-based PYD research over the last two decades, much remains unknown about specific programmatic design features. Promising practices point to the role of reflection in facilitating life skill development and the application of newly learned skills to real-life. This study investigates the reflective journaling of 234 youth experiencing social vulnerabilities who participated in a sport-based PYD program called LiFEsports. Thematic analyses explored text and illustrations included in youth journals. Results suggest that youth both understand and consider how life skills (i.e., self-control, effort, teamwork, social responsibility, personal responsibility, leadership) can be transferred to settings such as at home, during school and in the community. Further findings highlight the relationship between significant others (e.g., teammates, coaches, parents) and life skills transfer, particularly related to reinforcement. Ultimately, journaling may serve as a viable method to prompt reflections among youth. Full article

Background/Objectives: Conduct Disorder (CD) involves persistent behavior violating societal norms and others’ rights. A subgroup of adolescents with CD exhibits callous–unemotional (CU) traits, which are linked to severe antisocial behavior and poorer long-term outcomes. Research suggests parenting plays an important role in the development of CU traits. However, few studies have explored the role of maternal and paternal parenting practices mediating the link between CU traits and violence within the same study. Methods: This study included 222 adolescents with Conduct Disorder (M_age = 15.7, 68% male) and examined whether perceived parental warmth and hostility, measured using the Quality of Parental Relationships, mediated the association between callous–unemotional (CU) traits and youth involvement in violent crime and gun violence, assessed via the Violent Crime Assessment and Gun Violence Questionnaire. Results: Double mediation models showed that only maternal hostility mediated the link between CU traits and violence, while maternal warmth and paternal parenting practices did not. Conclusions: Findings emphasize the role of maternal hostility in exacerbating violence, including gun violence, among adolescents with CD and CU traits. Full article

Adolescents’ performance in high-stakes standardized examinations plays a pivotal role in shaping their educational trajectories. This longitudinal study investigated whether parental attendance at parent–teacher conferences (PTCs) during early adolescence is associated with students’ performance in standardized examinations required for high school and college entrance. Drawing on data from the Taiwan Youth Project, we analyzed responses from 1294 ninth-grade students and 524 twelfth-grade students with available exam results. Parental participation in PTCs was recorded in both seventh and eighth grades, along with two other types of school-based involvement and covariates, such as parental education level, household income, students’ birth order, prior academic rank, peer relationships, parental support, and parental expectations. Hierarchical linear modeling was employed to control for individual and school-level variables. The results showed that parental attendance at PTCs in eighth grade was associated with higher scores on high school entrance exams in ninth grade. Furthermore, attending PTCs in both seventh and eighth grades was significantly associated with better performance in college entrance exams in twelfth grade (β = 3.02, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that sustained parental engagement in PTCs contributes to improved academic performance in adolescence. Policies that promote equitable and continued parent–teacher collaboration may support long-term student success. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite the striking prevalence of pediatric chronic pain (20% of youth), its impact on culturally diverse populations, particularly Asian families, remains underexplored. The existing literature on parent protective behaviors predominantly focuses on Non-Hispanic White (NHW) families, where such behaviors often exacerbate pain outcomes, therefore informing a core treatment target in clinical practice. This study aims to explore the role of parent protective behaviors in relation to global and pain-related distress in Asian families in comparison to NHW counterparts. Methods: A sample of 1415 youth (Asian: n = 236; NHW: n = 1179) aged 8 to 17 completed a survey prior to their evaluation at a tertiary pain clinic. Bivariate correlations and independent-sample t-tests were conducted to assess differences in anxiety, depression, pain-related distress, and parent protective behaviors between groups. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine whether parent protective behaviors moderated the relationship between global distress and pain-related outcomes. Results: Asian youth reported significantly lower pain intensity and pain interference than NHW youth, while Asian parents reported significantly higher protective behaviors. Parent protective behaviors moderated the association between global distress (depression and anxiety) and pain catastrophizing for Asian families only. A three-way interaction (ethnicity x parent protective behaviors, global distress, B = −0.22, p < 0.001; B = −0.18, p < 0.01) revealed that protective behaviors influenced the distress–pain catastrophizing link differently by ethnicity. Conclusions: Differences were observed in the Asian youth’s experience of pain in comparison to their NHW counterparts. This study highlights the importance of considering culturally nuanced approaches in treating pediatric chronic pain, particularly when working with Asian families. Full article

Research shows that parental acceptance can serve as a protective factor against negative mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth. Although a few studies have examined the role of critical consciousness in mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth, findings are often inconsistent and do not provide a clear picture. Thus, the present study aims to fill this knowledge gap. Using a sample of LGBTQ+ youth aged 18–25 (N = 460), the present study explores the relationship between critical consciousness, mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and flourishing), and the buffering role of parental support using bivariate correlations and moderated regression analyses. Findings show that (1) higher critical consciousness was associated with lower flourishing, (2) higher parental acceptance was associated with lower depressive and anxiety symptoms and greater flourishing, and (3) parental acceptance did not moderate the relationships between critical consciousness and mental health outcomes. The results of this study illustrate that while parental acceptance is a positive factor for mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth, different dimensions of critical consciousness may have varying effects on mental health well-being for this population. Implications for research, clinical practice, and advocacy, such as examining peer support and community healing, are discussed in relation to these findings. Full article

Background/objectives: Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a serious public health concern affecting youth worldwide. Potential risk factors of ADV include child maltreatment (CM) and intimate partner violence exposure (eIPV), though existing research on ADV perpetration specifically is inconsistent. There is limited research on co-occurring eIPV and CM, despite co-occurrence in 30–60% of homes where there is one. This study aims to address these gaps by testing the impact of childhood violence exposure on ADV perpetration and assessing two potential, theory-informed mitigating factors—mental health and parent–youth relationship. Methods: This study utilizes moderated-mediation structural equation modeling with longitudinal data from a sample of 2354 U.S. adolescents (10–18) and one of their caregivers. Three models were tested: (1) childhood violence exposure (eIPV only, CM only, or co-occurring CM & EIPV) and ADV perpetration; (2) mediation by mental health quality on model 1; and (3) overall moderation by parent–youth relationship quality on model 2. Results: The final sample consisted of 961 youth with a history of dating. A significant direct effect between eIPV and ADV perpetration was found. There was a significant direct effect between co-occurrence (eIPV & CM) and ADV perpetration, which was mediated by mental health quality. Conclusions: This study further emphasizes the relation between eIPV and ADV and provides novel evidence of the impact co-occurrence has on ADV. Evidence of a trauma-informed mitigating factor, mental health quality, offers a potential point of intervention to be considered by mental health providers and ADV prevention/intervention programs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children that are forcibly displaced are more likely to experience mental health and behavioural challenges than non-displaced populations, including increased risk of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Building appropriate parenting skills to strengthen the relationships between caregivers and their children in times of war is key to building resilience in children. There is a lack of research on the role of family skill interventions in internally displaced people (IDP). The aim of this study was to assess the potential change in parenting skills, child mental health, and resilience capacity in families living in IDP camps in Kachin State, Myanmar, after taking part in a brief family skill intervention, Strong Families. Methods: An open, multi-site pilot feasibility and acceptability trial was conducted with 100 families. Outcome data were collected prospectively, assessing changes in parenting skills and family adjustment in caregivers, children’s behaviour, and children’s resilience capacities. Families were assessed using three scales, Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-R). Results: Despite being a light intervention, Strong Families produced improvements in the child mental health, parenting practices, and parent and family adjustment skills scales. Improvements were observed in scores particularly for caregivers and children with greater challenges at baseline. Conclusions: The results positively value the importance and feasibility of family skill interventions being integrated into the routine care of IDP families. This advocates for the prioritisation of using such tools for supporting better family functioning and mental health in humanitarian contexts. Full article

Background: The existing literature often oversimplifies the complex relationship between religion and Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH), particularly regarding church-based interventions. This study aimed to investigate the nature and implementation strategies of church AYSRH programmes within their belief systems to inform effective programme development. Methodology: An interpretive descriptive design was employed. Data were collected in the Vaal Triangle region of South Africa (Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging, and Sasolburg) between August 2019 and February 2020. In-depth interviews were conducted with pastors, government officials, and school principals. Focus group discussions were held with parent and youth church groups alongside youth groups from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. Data were analyzed using Atlas.ti v.23. Results: Church-based AYSRH interventions primarily emphasize information provision and abstinence until marriage, aligned with prevailing moral values. These interventions are delivered through integration into existing church programmes and collaborations with external stakeholders for specialized areas like contraception. Limitations identified included ineffectiveness, superficiality, impracticality, tensions between religious doctrine and lived realities, a reductionist focus, a singular information-sharing approach, and limited pastor understanding and openness regarding AYSRH. Conclusions: Churches possess valuable communication platforms and partnerships that could be leveraged for AYSRH interventions. However, this study highlights a one-sided focus on church teachings and significant tensions between idealized approaches and practical implementation, raising critical questions about the overall efficacy of church-led AYSRH projects. This research validates prior findings on church-based AYSRH interventions while offering nuanced insights and heuristic perspectives for a more comprehensive and less simplistic understanding of church-driven AYSRH services. Full article

Adolescence is a critical period for sociopolitical development, yet research has primarily focused on youth with explicit civic engagement, overlooking the role of community involvement in broader contexts. This mixed-methods study examines how adolescent community involvement—ranging from volunteering and advocacy to participation in sports, religious, and cultural activities—shapes sociopolitical control (SPC) in young adulthood. Using longitudinal quantitative survey data from 352 Canadian families, alongside qualitative interviews with 32 adult participants, we analyze how relationships with parents and peers mediate the link between community involvement and SPC. Regression analyses demonstrate that community involvement in high school predicts SPC at age 25, with parental support and positive peer relationships serving as significant mediators. Mediation analysis further reveals that relationships with mothers exert the strongest indirect effect on SPC, followed by relationships with fathers and peers. Qualitative findings highlight the mechanisms through which relational contexts foster or hinder SPC, illustrating that family values, peer norms, and early exposure to social issues shape long-term civic identity. These results underscore the importance of fostering relationally supportive environments that encourage diverse forms of adolescent community participation, contributing to both individual empowerment and broader democratic engagement. Full article