Youth, Volume 4, Issue 3 (September 2024) – 26 articles

Building on previous work examining the three central theoretical models driving the youth mentoring literature, the present paper presents an updated conceptual framework on how youth mentoring can equitably support health outcomes for young people, particularly minoritized or otherwise marginalized youth. Youth mentoring has been demonstrated to support positive health outcomes (e.g., mental health, well-being) for all young people, and has a growing literature base to match the enthusiasm in findings. The core conceptual models, however, had not been updated for nearly 20 years. This paper starts with the guiding values behind the updated model, including centering the pursuit of social justice, a recognition of structural oppression, and utilizing key modern theoretical bases (healing-centered engagement, a strengths-based approach, and community cultural wealth). Ultimately, this paper presents an updated conceptual model, outlining key aspects needed to support mental health for minoritized young people through youth mentoring, including building a foundational relationship, key mechanisms of mentoring, reciprocal benefits, and context-specific support. Full article

There is a growing movement in Canada towards youth homelessness prevention. One such response, called shelter diversion aims to move young people into safe and supportive housing as quickly as possible. The objective of this project is to assess how, and in what ways, shelter diversion operates and whether this intervention permanently or temporarily diverts youth from homelessness. Our project is grounded in principles of community-based participatory research including community/university partnerships and an advisory committee of lived-experience experts. Our team is utilizing mixed methods to capture the outcomes of diversion programs. Data collection began in September 2022 and ended in May 2024. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis is underway. Preliminary results show differences in how diversion is defined and implemented across organizations. There are also differences in staffing models and program budgets. The findings from this study will contribute to a recommendation for a national definition and adaptable program model for shelter diversion, easily accessible to support the expansion of diversion programs into youth-serving organizations across Canada. This study is the first in Canada to examine the effectiveness of shelter diversion as an early intervention strategy to prevent youth homelessness on a national scale. Full article

Sport and physical activity is often utilized as a tool for engagement within interventions designed to support wider social and personal change for marginalized young people. The implicit discourse that underpins such interventions is the assumed transference of skills, qualities, and attributes acquired and developed through sport to broader societal contexts. However, there is a scarcity of studies that have critically examined this relationship. By way of correction, the purpose of this article is to examine the concept of transferability and explore how sport-based interventions might enable marginalized young people to thrive in other life domains. More precisely, the article calls for a rethink on what skills, attributes, and qualities might need to be transferred from sport-based interventions, while also outlining suggestions for how transfer might be facilitated. As a context for this discussion, the article draws upon empirical insights derived from a study of a youth-focused, golf-based intervention delivered in the south–west of England. Specifically, the article examines how providing opportunities for its youth participants to accumulate various forms of capital (rather than specific skills or qualifications) supported transfer, in combination with a pedagogical approach that resonated with notions of critical pedagogy. Full article

Prevention and early intervention have become part of the Australian policy discourse; however, the prevention and early intervention of youth homelessness remain significantly underdeveloped and underfunded in practice. Consequently, too many young people experience homelessness. This article presents the ‘Community of Schools and Services’ (COSS) Model as an innovative approach to the prevention of youth homelessness. The COSS Model is an Australian place-based collective impact approach that uses data gathered via population screening in secondary schools to identify and then support adolescents at risk of homelessness and also reorganizes the local support system available to vulnerable young people and their families. This paper is not the result of a research project. Rather, this paper presents the findings of the Embedded Development and Outcomes Measurement (EDOM) report, which is a feature of the COSS Model. This paper is limited to findings from the COSS Model implementation in Albury, NSW, known as the Albury Project, from 2019 to 2023. The Albury Project has demonstrated significant reductions in the risk of homelessness and entry into the local homelessness service system. Findings reveal that: (1) when COSS Model support is delivered to identified at-risk students, 40–50% of individuals are no longer at such high risk of homelessness 12-months later; (2) only 3–5% of students identified as at risk of homelessness and supported through the COSS Model sought assistance from local homelessness services in the following two years; and (3) the flow of adolescents (12–18 years) into the local homelessness services was reduced by 40% from 2019 to 2023. As an evidence-based, complex innovation, there are major policy, funding, and implementation challenges in scaling the model to multiple community sites. Full article

This study investigated the 7-day recovery period post-soccer matches in elite male academy players. We analyzed changes in physical performance, stretch-shortening cycle capability, landing mechanics, muscle damage, and perceived well-being while also considering the influence of players’ maturity status, chronological age, and physical demands on post-match responses. In a prospective, observational, mixed longitudinal study design, twenty-six players (U14 = 14 [age = 13.9 ± 0.2 y, and U16 = 12 [age = 15.1 ± 0.2 y]) undertook testing at baseline (1 h pre-match), immediately post-match (0 h), and 48-, 72-, 96-, and 120 h post-match for measures in creatine kinase (CK), urea (UR), CMJ height, 20 m sprint time, reactive strength index (RSI), leg stiffness (LS), landing mechanics, and perceived well-being. Players were also tested pre [168-h] and post the subsequent match. Results showed significant alterations 0 h post-match in CK (+71.3%), UR (+12.8%), CMJ height (−5.3%), 20 m sprint time (+3.8%), RSI (−9.6%), LS (−11.5%), and perceived well-being (−7.7%), with landing mechanics being unaffected. All parameters returned to baseline at 48 h, except for CK and UR, which remained elevated until 168 h. The players’ initial scores influenced how they responded after the match during the week. In conclusion, coaches should focus on post-match strategies to enhance muscle recovery, especially for youth players with a lower training status, given the extended recovery period observed for muscle damage markers. Full article

Young adults experiencing homelessness face multiple challenges and are often confronted with additional barriers stemming from adverse past experiences. Whereas youth homelessness rates appear to increase across Europe, our knowledge on its nature in Belgium remains limited. Based on recent local point-in-time counts on homelessness in Belgium (2020–2022) and a focus group (2022) to interpret these results, we examine the profiles of more than 2000 homeless young adults and distinguish between three distinct groups (youth care leavers, Belgians with no care history, and newcomers). Alongside the need for universal prevention, tailored interventions are crucial for each subgroup to address their unique needs. Full article

There is a lack of published research on the evaluation of academic success among student-athletes in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 2 (D2) institutions. Our study focused on comparing academic performance and career prospects between student-athletes and non-athletes (traditional students) at a D2 university. A survey measuring academic and career-related variables was administered to 170 participants, with 92 (54%) being student-athletes and 78 (46%) being non-athlete students. Our findings revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of study hours, grade point average, and academic motivation. Moreover, there were no disparities in declared majors, expected graduation timelines, and career aspirations. The academic performance of student-athletes was found to be similar to that of their non-athlete counterparts. Most D2 student-athletes did not foresee pursuing professional sports careers, highlighting the importance of academic achievement in their overall career objectives. Full article

This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 22 Indian youth climate activists (mean age = 19) from 13 cities across India to explore factors that sustain or detract from climate activism. Data were analyzed using reflexive Thematic Analysis. In addition to two gatekeeping factors (lack of family support and financial and job pressures) that may prevent youth from joining or cause youth to quit their climate activism entirely, this study identified factors that affected youth’s sustained climate activism: two detracting factors (negative interactions with government, and online and in-person bullying and harassment); four supporting factors (sense of community, internal motivations, seeing tangible achievements, and personal growth); and one factor (climate anxiety) with mixed effects on sustaining youth activism. Further, we describe ways in which youth holding minoritized identities, including lower-income, Muslim, and rural youth, had distinct experiences. Full article

Transphobic and homophobic violence and discrimination within homes and housing programs lead many 2-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SLGBTQ+) youth to find alternative, temporary, and insecure housing. These types of living situations are considered “hidden homelessness”. This study interviewed 2SLGBTQ+ youth (n = 6) and key informants (n = 12) who have experienced and/or who support hidden homelessness across three sites in Ontario (Toronto, York Region, and London). The results suggest experiences of hidden homelessness for 2SLGBTQ+ youth are nonlinear, with pathways driven by family conflict combined with the high cost of living and lack of employment, making independent living unaffordable. Additionally, youth avoid services where they experience discrimination and often experience social isolation. In rural and suburban areas, youth have fewer options for safe and inclusive services. When services are accessible, wrap-around supports that address the complexity of their situations help youth exit hidden homelessness. Prevention strategies should focus on addressing family conflict and supporting reunification when it is safe to do so. For those who are unable to return home, there is a need for increased financial support and more affordable housing. Building comprehensive population-based support services is recommended to address the overrepresentation of 2SLGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. Full article

Youth mentoring as a field of study has grown immensely in recent years, with hundreds of peer-reviewed research articles on the subject. A key driver of this interest is the demonstrated ability of youth mentoring to support positive mental health for minoritized youth. Three central theoretical models, published nearly twenty years ago, drive the majority of this body of research: the systemic model, the relational model, and the mechanisms of mentoring model. The present paper examines these theoretical models through conversation with their authors and presents their reflections and insights, the contexts in which these models were originally written, and the similarities and differences among them. By understanding the origins of these three influential theoretical models, what they center, and what they do not center, we can begin to consider the ways in which the body of work on youth mentoring is framed. Ultimately, these analyses and reflections outline future directions for the field and a forthcoming updated conceptual model of youth mentoring that centers issues of equity and social justice. Full article

Youth work has become a well-developed European field of activity in terms of structure and content, not at least since the adoption of the European Youth Work Agenda (2020). Through a meta-synthesis of three structural studies on youth work in Europe, this article provides three main considerations. Firstly, the article makes an analytical distinction between European youth work and youth work in Europe, thus clarifying the general concept of “youth work”. Secondly, this analytical distinction helps to systematise and classify the topics being dealt with by actors in the field of youth work: youth work as a European framework (role of European documents; transfer between levels; youth work in times of crises), youth work development at the national, regional and local level (youth work legal framework; funding; recognition, quality and professionalisation; innovations), and the multi-dimensional challenges of shrinking spaces for both young people and youth work (youth work as an independent field of action; shortage of skilled labour; austerity measures; young people moving away; rise of extremism). Thirdly, the discursive openings the different concepts and narratives of youth work can offer are outlined. In this way, the article hopes to contribute to the (further) development of youth work theory in Europe. Full article

This article identifies community-based alternatives to secure care being utilised in The Netherlands, Canada, Hawaii and Scotland. These countries offer ways to not only reduce or eliminate the need to deprive children and young people of their liberty in secure care but also reduce rates of child removal and alternative care placements. Secure care is the containment of children and young people, often subject to child protection interventions and residing in residential care, in a locked facility when they pose a significant risk of harm to the community and themselves. An admission to secure care exposes children to restrictive practices, such as seclusion, use of force and restraint. Jurisdictions have an ethical imperative, and often legislative obligation, to ensure there are less intrusive community-based supports available, which could be utilised instead of a secure care admission where possible. However, there is little research on what alternatives effectively divert secure care admissions. Hawaii, Canada, The Netherlands and Scotland demonstrate how countries can reduce the number of vulnerable children deprived of their liberty and exposed to restrictive practices by enhancing research linkages, responding to the voice of lived experience, and positioning secure care and alternatives within system-wide reform. Full article

Despite the well-documented detrimental health effects of prolonged engagement in sedentary behaviors, children and adolescents spent a large amount of time with seated activities. The present study examined the association between participation in club sports and various sedentary behaviors during weekdays and the weekend in youth between 11 and 17 years of age. A total of 1225 (50.1% male) adolescents completed a validated questionnaire that examined sitting time in activities related to work as well as during leisure time such as screen use, reading, and listening to music in addition to sleep time. Participants spent an average of 12.7 ± 1.7 and 9.9 ± 2.0 h/day during weekdays and the weekend, respectively, in seated behaviors while they were awake. Club sports participants reported less time spent sitting (p < 0.01), which was mainly attributed to recreational activities (e.g., screen use, reading, listening to music). Sleep time during weekdays, on the other hand, was higher in club sports participants. Sex-specific results further showed that differences by club sports participation were more pronounced in girls compared to boys. Despite the potential beneficial effects of club sports participation, additional efforts are needed to reduce sitting time in adolescents as either group spent the majority of their time awake with sedentary behaviors. Full article

Several youth volleyball tournaments are played across multiple consecutive days with athletes averaging 3–4 matches/day. This study evaluated the differences in workload of female youth volleyball athletes across days and by position during multi-day tournaments. Athletes (n = 22, 16.4 ± 0.4 years) wore an accelerometer during 12 two- and three-day tournaments. Workload was measured via kinetic energy (KE, J/lb), total jumps (TJ), high jumps (HJ, >51 cm), average jump height (cm), and percentage of high stress movements (%) via VERT accelerometers. Data were analyzed across days and by position as an average per day and analyzed via repeated measures analyses of variance. Across days, workload averages ranged 484.8–558.0 J/lb for KE, 27.3–31.2 TJ/match, 37.5–37.9 cm/jump, 5.2–6.5 HJ/match, and 20.1–20.7% high stress movements/match, with no difference (p = 0.300). Setters (49.2 ± 24.3 jumps) jumped more than liberos (13.0 ± 6.8 TJ, p = 0.005), and middles (45.8 ± 4.1 cm) jumped higher than all other positions (setters: 28.8 ± 3.6 cm, outside hitters: 41.3 ± 4.2 cm, and liberos: 27.0 ± 4.1 cm, p = 0.000–0.044). Athletes appeared to perform and recover sufficiently between days of play such that their external load was not affected. The level of competition tends to become more evenly matched as the tournament progresses, thus there may have been less physical demand early in the tournaments due to unequal competition levels compared to the final day of the tournament. Full article

In this study, we identified differences in characteristics and circumstances, main presenting problems, and types of referrals received among young people who were in crisis, at imminent risk of homelessness, or currently homeless. This study draws on data from 11,566 young people who contacted the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) through the National Communication System (NCS), a federal program for young people at risk or experiencing homelessness in the U.S. and those who care for them. Frontline staff collect information directly from young people during crisis intervention engagement through the NRS. We used multinomial logistic regression analyses to predict membership in each of the homelessness risk categories and logistic regression analyses to predict the type of service referrals young people received. Results revealed that young people’s circumstances and presenting problems were associated with homelessness risk category membership, which in turn was linked with the types of service referrals young people received. This study illuminates valuable opportunities for targeting prevention opportunities to the specific needs of young people with varying levels of homelessness risk. Full article

European identity among youth remains under-studied despite having the potential to promote inclusive benefits. Through a rapid evidence assessment (REA), this paper addresses two aims. First, it synthesises definitions of European identity among children, adolescents and young adults through thematic analysis, and summarises measurements. Second, it summarises the constructs associated with European identity among youth, providing a broad overview of existing research. Based on thematic analysis, European identity is operationally defined as a complex identity with which youth may choose to identify, uniting people based on a diverse range of factors but acknowledging the diversity of national roots and, in turn, affording benefits due to the sense of belonging it provides. School-based interventions and curricula, knowledge about Europe and the EU, political trust, benefits of the EU, and cross-border experiences, along with enhanced intergroup attitudes and civic engagement, are associated with stronger European identification. Avenues for future research are identified, including the need for a developmentally appropriate measure of European identity, the investigation of its relationship with other constructs, and exploring the potential of curricular interventions to promote the inclusive aspects of European identity on a national scale, particularly among younger pupils. Full article

Throughout history, Black women have taken their unique lived experiences to make changes through civic behaviors. At the same time, they hold a complex position in society, located at the intersection of multiple marginalizing identities that put them at risk of experiencing distinct forms of discrimination. To date, little research has examined the patterns of Black women’s civic behaviors and associations with discrimination experiences and well-being. This may be particularly salient during emerging adulthood, a key period of sociopolitical development and increasing mental health problems. The current study seeks to address this gap, drawing from theories of intersectionality and sociopolitical development. Participants included 103 emerging adult Black women (M_age = 24.27, SD = 2.76) with a range of civic experiences. Overall, anti-racist action was the most prevalent domain of civic behavior. Participants were about twice as likely to engage in traditional political behaviors (e.g., signing petitions, giving money) than political protest. Latent class analysis was used to identify three unique subgroups of civic behaviors: Stably Committed, Traditionally Engaged, or Low Engagement. Findings also showed that emerging adult Black women classified as Stably Committed experienced more discrimination and higher depressive symptoms. The current findings inform the creation of safe spaces for emerging adult Black women to be civically engaged as they navigate racism and sexism and take action to seek racial justice. Full article

A total of 10% of children looked after in residential care in Scotland are aged 5–11. Although there has been a significant amount of information published about the care trajectories of adolescents in residential care, there is limited information about the experiences of younger children. In this paper, we explore the care trajectories and nature of care received by 5–11-year-olds identified as being in need of residential care. Our results show that younger children who enter residential care have significant trauma histories and experience significant levels of emotional and behavioural dysregulation that foster carers find challenging to manage, resulting in recurrent placement breakdowns. Residential care, particularly small-group-sized care that adopts social pedagogical and psychotherapeutic approaches, was considered beneficial for addressing the psychosocial and emotional needs of younger children. Despite these findings, there were concerns about the long-term use of residential care for younger children. Our results highlight that there is a need to improve access to paediatric mental health services for children in family-based placements. There is also a need to invest in better training and support for foster carers looking after children in severe distress. Community-based outreach services and in-home respite services provided by residential care teams are one way this could be achieved. Finally, in order to promote earlier and more timeous use of residential care, there is a need to shift societal views around residential care being a placement of last resort to rather being a place of recovery and healing that should sometimes be used as a placement of first resort. Full article

In this paper, we draw upon a study exploring how COVID-19 and social isolation impacted young people’s (aged 13–18) experiences of online sexual and gendered risks and harms in England during nationwide lockdowns and upon their return to school. We explore the complexities, tensions and ambiguities in youth navigating algorithmised feeds on social media apps such as TikTok and content featuring idealised cis-gendered, heterosexualised feminine and masculine embodiment. Young people repeatedly witness hateful and abusive comments that are algorithmically boosted. We argue that this toxic content normalises online hate in the form of body shaming and sexual shaming, developing the concept of the postdigital to analyse the offline, affective, embodied and material dimensions of online harm, harassment and abuse. We also explore young people’s direct experiences of receiving harmful comments, including girls’ and gender and sexuality-diverse youth’s experiences of body and sexual shaming, as well as boys’ experiences of fat shaming; which, in many instances, we argue must be classified as forms of image-based abuse. Using our postdigital lens, we argue that the ways heteronormative, cis-gendered masculine and feminine embodiment are policed online shapes behaviour and norms in young people’s everyday lives, including in and around school, and that better understanding and support around these issues is urgently needed. Full article

Most policies to combat gang criminal behavior are rooted in deterrence and punitive strategies. This is fueled by moral panic, a get tough on crime rhetoric, and a lack of understanding for the psychological factors that may influence this behavior. Further, the extant literature has consistently observed that gang membership is associated with increased criminal behavior. In an effort to promote and shift away from punitive approaches in response to gang delinquency, the current study investigates the role psychopathic traits have in violent and property offending, longitudinally, in a sample of gang-involved youth. The study implemented count mixed effect models to investigate the topic longitudinally in waves 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, while controlling for other variables with violent and property offending frequency. The current study found that some psychopathic traits are associated with offending behavior, longitudinally, in gang members and youth with a history of gang involvement. The findings suggest that gang intervention strategies should include empirically supported programs for treating psychopathic traits in gang identified youth to reduce involvement in delinquent behavior. Further, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers should collaborate to develop more empirically supported strategies to reduce and prevent gang delinquent behavior from an empathetic lens. Full article

Bullying is a social problem that usually increases during adolescence and can have serious consequences on the wellbeing of students. One of the members of the educational community that is most present in these situations is the teachers. This qualitative research aims to know the teachers’ perceptions about bullying among adolescents within the school environment. It was possible to deepen the experiences of 20 teachers by conducting semistructured interviews with open-ended questions. The results obtained indicate that education professionals have been bystanders to episodes of bullying among their students and that they opt for mediation between both parties (bully and victim) as an intervention measure. Teachers believe that bullied students tend to be young people with low self-esteem, introverted and sad. On the contrary, bullies are shown to be leaders with social support, egocentric, and with low empathy. The need to know the different perceptions and strategies used by teachers in situations of bullying among their students is discussed, with the intention of promoting resources and programs that can help them in this type of situation. Full article

Young organizers are increasingly calling for social movements to center healing alongside activism as they build political power. Campaigns that solely focus on policy wins or base-building can lead to burnout and frustration. Sociopolitical action is more likely to be sustained if accompanied by experiences of care, belonging, and mutual support. Such an approach makes sociopolitical wellbeing central to organizing. Although the research literature has offered conceptualizations of healing, and compelling evidence of health-related outcomes, we still lack empirical examples of what it looks like for youth community organizing (YCO) groups to weave a commitment to healing into sustained collective action. Drawing on qualitative data from the Powerful Youth, Powerful Communities International Study on Youth Organizing, we define and demonstrate three interconnected healing-oriented values that foster what we characterize as sociopolitical wellbeing. The three values, which we illustrate via fieldnotes and interview excerpts, are collectivized care, spiritual activism, and freedom dreaming. YCO holds promising implications for supporting youth engagement in democratic movements for education, racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice. Full article

The aim of this paper is to discuss how young Latinx men living in Australia negotiate, embody, and complicate existing dominant and racialized masculinities. Queer and feminist theories are used to explore how Latinx men negotiate and embody masculinities, sexualities, and being ‘other’ in a White dominant cultural context. These tensions were explored through semi-structured in-depth interviews and a creative visual method known as sandboxing with twenty-one Latinx men. Sandboxing aims to elicit conversation and allows for the reflection and sharing of a visual and symbolic representation of participants’ lives. The findings suggest masculinities are lived and embodied alongside negotiating racialization and sexualities. The fluidity of masculinities surfaces in participants’ reflexive engagement with masculinities and the nuances in negotiating and simultaneously reproducing gender binary norms. Participants’ careful negotiation in engaging with feminine culture led to developing the concept ‘feminine threshold’, a theoretical contribution offered in this article, in understanding how Latinx men negotiate masculinities. Full article

LGBTQIA+ youth often face stigma from society as they develop their personal identities. In the United States, legislation has recently been focusing on reducing protections in schools for queer youth and limiting access to resources like gender affirming healthcare. Youth have increasingly been targeted for identifying as queer and have experienced verbal and physical violence for expressing their gender identities. Research links stigmatization with increased mental health and substance use problems. However, there is limited information on how stigma experienced during adolescence may continue to impact young adults over time. Using a qualitative retrospective framework, LGBTQIA+-identified undergraduates (N = 8) at a 4-year university participated in one-hour virtual focus groups. Data were recorded and anonymized using individual participant codes with names of people or places removed from transcripts. Students were asked to reflect on their experiences as queer youth in secondary school including access to resources; interactions with teachers, staff, and peers; recommendations for supporting LGBTQIA+ students; and personal coping skills. The researchers used a thematic analysis to examine key issues students raised. Results provide insight into the challenges LGBTQIA+ youth face and highlight the strengths of these college-age young adults. Full article

Cases of historical and contemporary social movements suggest that among activists, reading texts together is a valuable learning experience. However, less research exists on the specific texts youth activists seek out in their work and the role these texts play in shaping their understanding of themselves as activists. Drawing on Rudine Sims Bishop’s classic formulation of books as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors, this study explores the under-appreciated role texts may play in drawing young people to activism and shaping their identities as activists. Coupled with interview data from six youth activists engaged in the climate justice movement, survey data from 237 self-identifying youth activists suggest that the texts youth activists name as influential serve a “through the looking glass” function: they often reflect problematic aspects of the social world and one’s place within it, while also revealing new and aspirational roles readers might take on to address social problems. The texts the youth identified as influential were diverse; there were few commonalities among titles, underscoring the importance of ongoing access to a broad range of reading materials. Ultimately, findings suggest that texts work to bind together the various internal and external, micro, meso, and macro influences that collectively shape youth activists’ narratives of becoming. Full article