Youth & Society最新文献

Many of the challenges youth in youth-adult collaborations face are rooted in adultism, which impedes efforts toward justice. Research suggests that rather than merely focusing on inclusion, adults need to meaningfully support youth, since youth report not being taken seriously by adults. Radical listening theory offers relational, epistemic, and embodied practices. Yet, unsurprisingly, youth perspectives still need to be seriously understood and affirmed regarding their desires for partnership and listening. Survey and focus groups analyses with youth and adults in the county suggest that mutual respect, a nuanced form of mentorship, and being validated as epistemic partners is vital.

Internalized homophobia (IH) negatively impacts the mental health of adolescent sexual minority men (ASMM), while self-esteem is posited to bolster their mental health. In a repeated-measures study with 599 ASMM (Mean age = 16.2 [SD = 1.3]; 75.6% racial and ethnic minorities), longitudinal structural equation models investigated the relationships among IH, self-esteem, and mental health (depression and anxiety), as well as the mediating role of self-esteem. Higher self-esteem at earlier time points was significantly associated with lower anxiety and depressive symptoms. The hypothesized mediation pathways were not statistically significant. Subgroup analyses revealed that the protective effect of self-esteem against anxiety was significant for racial and ethnic minority ASMM but not for their non-Hispanic White counterparts. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions that address the unique experiences of ASMM from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

This research aims to explore cultually adaptable definisitions and measurement of Positive Youth Development for second-generation Chinese American youth. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 second-generation Chinese American youth (ages 12-18) and developed survey items for future quantitative PYD research. Using both inductive and deductive analysese, the study identified 118 items for a PYD measure, revealing six potential constructs, the Five Cs (Competence, Confidence, Character, Caring, and Connection), and a novel construct, Culture. The findings suggest that the positive development of Chinese American youth may differ from the conventional PYD model, emphasizing the importance of including Culture as a distinct construct. The research provides valuable insights into PYD among second-generation Chinese American youth, offering a theoretically and developmentally appropriate approach for assessing their positive development. The inclusion of Culture as a distinct construct expands the understanding of PYD within this population and underscores the need for nuanced considerations in future research and intervention efforts.

Youth are disproportionately affected by substance use and associated sexual risk behaviors, increasing STI and HIV susceptibility. This study analyzed the interplay between alcohol/drug use before sex (ABS/DBS), perceived sex approval (e.g., perceived familial or peer approval in engaging in sex), and HIV/STI risk perception among youth aged 13-21 (n = 150). We assessed how these factors influenced condomless vaginal/anal sex (VAS) and oral sex practices. Results showed significant interactions between perceived sex approval and lifetime ABS for lifetime condomless VAS, and between HIV/STI risk perception and lifetime ABS for current condomless oral sex. These findings underline the influence of perceived sex approval and HIV/STI risk perception on youth's sexual behaviors. Implications for targeted interventions are discussed.

Firearm suicides among adolescents have increased in the US and rates vary across racial and ethnic groups. In this study, we examined contextual information around adolescent firearm suicides and analyzed how incident characteristics vary across racial and ethnic groups. We analyzed firearm suicides among adolescents (ages 10-18) from 2004-2020 using data from the National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System (NFR-CRS). There were 4,153 firearm suicides during that period. Suicides often involved males, older adolescents (15-18y) and handguns. Most firearms belonged to the primary caregiver and incidents frequently occurred at home. However, we found that characteristics varied substantially across racial and ethnic groups. Overall, we provide new information on firearm suicides among adolescents in the US using a larger dataset than previous studies and found significant differences in characteristics and demographics across racial and ethnic groups. This finding suggests the need for tailored prevention strategies.

Youth interpersonal firearm violence (e.g., homicides) disproportionately affects Black youth and contributes to racial health disparities. Institutional racial discrimination - in particular, residential racial segregation - is a determinant of racial disparities in firearm violence. Residential racial segregation, which is enforced to limit racially minoritized members to undesirable residential areas (e.g., fewer educational and employment opportunities), is associated with the socioecological risk factors of youth firearm violence (e.g., exposure to violence [ETV], neighborhood disadvantage). The socioecological mechanisms underlying the link between, however, remains unclear. Therefore, we tested the mediating role of neighborhood disadvantage (mediator 1) and ETV (mediator 2) in the association between residential racial segregation and youth firearm violence. Participants consisted of 338 Black youth who used illicit drugs in the past year and sought care in an urban emergency department. Using serial mediation analysis, residential racial segregation was indirectly associated with youth firearm violence via neighborhood disadvantage and then exposure to violence. Identifying the downstream socioecological consequences of residential segregation can inform the development of firearm violence prevention programs that address the socioecological consequences of racism.

Research on firearm purchaser licensing laws has found population level reductions in firearm-related mortality. Limited research has been conducted specifically examining the impact of these laws among adolescents and emerging adults. We obtained death data from the National Center for Health Statistics from 1990-2019. We generated state-year rates of homicide and suicide, stratified by firearm involvement, for decedents aged 15-24. We stratified by race and ethnicity (white, Black, and Hispanic) to assess for differential policy effects. We used stacked difference-in-difference and augmented synthetic control modeling to estimate law repeal or adoption. Repeal of firearm purchaser licensing laws was associated with significantly higher rates of firearm homicide and suicide among those age 15-24. The adoption of these laws was associated with significantly lower rates of firearm homicide and suicide among this group. These laws are a promising supply-side intervention to reduce firearm mortality among those with elevated violence vulnerability.

Rural adolescents are at risk for firearm-related injury and death. In response, professional organizations have called for communication between adolescents, parents, and providers about firearms. A shared understanding of firearms between providers and families can facilitate effectiveness of health interventions. However, few studies engage adolescents in identifying their perception of common firearm terminology. The current study aimed to understand how adolescents in rural communities defined firearm-related terms including firearm, carrying, and handling, and differences in terms based on prior firearm training. Data were from a mixed methods community-based participatory study of 93 adolescents from rural Washington state. Thematic qualitative coding identified themes for firearm (gun, weapon, projectile, and tool), carrying (on you/your person, transportation, and holding), and handling (actively using, safe use, and holding) and differences between those with prior firearms training. Findings provide insight into perceptions of firearm-related terms for adolescents, an often-neglected voice, and inform rural policy and prevention efforts.