1. Political orientation in youth beyond the left-right divide : testing a three-factor model of political orientation and its relatedness to personal valuesŽan Lep, Andrej Kirbiš, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: The utility of the left-right dimension of political orientation, including among youth, has been questioned recently. Moreover, a sizeable share of young voters in Slovenia has a hard time describing their political orientation. In present research we thus explored whether a multi-dimensional model of social, economic and international dimension, could be better suited for describing young people's political orientations. In addition, as values precede political stances, we explored the relatedness of personal values with proposed dimensions of political orientation and whether the predictive power of regression models containing control background variables could be improved by their inclusion. We used FES Youth Study Southeast Europe 2018/19 data of 1,015 14-29-year-old Slovenians. The three dimensions exhibited good fit to the data and were relatively independent of the left-right placements, offering valuable additional insight into political thinking of youth. Moreover, the values were predictive of scores on all three dimensions over and beyond the included control variables, and shares of explained variances were higher than those with the left-right dimension. While the study has some limitations, findings suggest that a multi-dimensional approach to political orientation could be beneficial in research dealing with the aspects of the ever-changing political and social landscape.
Keywords: political orientation, youth, political ideology, values
Published in DKUM: 21.08.2024; Views: 82; Downloads: 5
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2. Measuring young individuals’ responses to climate change : validation of the Slovenian versions of the climate anxiety scale and the climate change worryNejc Plohl, Izidor Mlakar, Bojan Musil, Urška Smrke, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: While increasing awareness of climate change is needed to address this threat to the natural environment and humanity, it may simultaneously negatively impact mental health. Previous studies suggest that climate-specific mental health phenomena, such as climate anxiety and worry, tend to be especially pronounced in youth. To properly understand and address these issues, we need valid measures that can also be used in non-Anglophone samples. Therefore, in the present paper, we aimed to validate Slovenian versions of the Climate Anxiety Scale (CAS) and the Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) among Slovenian youth. Method: We conducted an online survey in which 442 young individuals (18–24 years) from Slovenia filled out the two central questionnaires and additional instruments capturing other relevant constructs (e.g., general anxiety, neuroticism, and behavioral engagement). Results: The confirmatory factor analyses results supported the hypothesized factorial structure of the CAS (two factors) and the CCWS (one factor). Both scales also demonstrated great internal reliability. Moreover, the analyses exploring both constructs’ nomological networks showed moderate positive associations with similar measures, such as anxiety and stress (convergent validity), and very weak associations with measures they should not be particularly related to, such as narcissism (discriminant validity). Lastly, we found that the CAS and, even more so, the CCWS have unique predictive value in explaining outcomes such as perceived threat, support for climate policies, and behavioral engagement (incremental validity). Discussion: Overall, Slovenian versions of the CAS and the CCWS seem to be valid, reliable, and appropriate for future studies tackling young individuals’ responses to climate change. Limitations of the study and areas for future research are discussed.
Keywords: climate anxiety, climate change, climate worry, validation, youth
Published in DKUM: 04.06.2024; Views: 137; Downloads: 12
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3. Physical health conditions and political participation in Europe : the moderating efects of ageAndrej Kirbiš, Mikko Mattila, Lauri Rapeli, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Unequal political participation is widely considered a problem of democratic representation. Citizens with fewer resources typically report lower levels of participation. Lack of good health has been identifed as one barrier to participation. However, poor health may have heterogeneous impacts on participation, depending on the type of health issue. Moreover, poor health may afect participation patterns differently, depending on age. Previous research has not yet systematically examined these issues. We address these gaps by using European Social Survey data, which includes self-reports of a variety of physical health conditions and engagement in diferent forms of political participation. The results show that most physical health conditions are related to political participation; however, except for turnout, physical health problems mobilize individuals into action. This efect is strongest among younger individuals, and the health gap in participation evens out in later life. The condition-specifc efects are similar across diferent forms of physical health conditions. Our fndings are consistent with the grievance and identity theories of political participation. Younger citizens, in particular, may experience poor health or physical impairment as unjust and are then mobilized into political action. We discuss the implications for the broader understanding of mechanisms behind political behavior and suggest that health problems are often a motivator for political action rather than an obstacle.
Keywords: health, political participation, social inequalities, youth, age, physical health, turnout
Published in DKUM: 09.02.2024; Views: 359; Downloads: 14
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4. Spillover effects of economic policy uncertainty on adult and youth unemploymentSilvo Dajčman, Alenka Kavkler, Natalia Levenko, Dejan Romih, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The paper studies the effects of foreign (the US, the UK and the Chinese) and domestic economic policy uncertainty (EPU) shocks on unemployment in Germany, France, Italy and Spain. The analysis is run separately for the rates of adult and youth unemployment. Impulse responses derived from vector autoregressive models show that the magnitudes of the responses of the adult and youth segments of the labour market are quite different. Following an uncertainty shock, the youth unemployment rate increases significantly more than the adult unemployment rate. This is the case for France, Italy and Spain. The German labour market seems to be resistant to foreign (except Chinese) and domestic EPU shocks, while the remaining labour markets, foremost the Spanish and Italian ones, are susceptible to uncertainty shocks, especially to the US EPU shocks.
Keywords: economic policy uncertainty, youth unemployment, adult unemployment, spillover effects, impulse responses
Published in DKUM: 26.09.2023; Views: 370; Downloads: 22
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5. Nursing support in facilitating mental well-being of adolescentsLeona Cilar Budler, 2022, doctoral dissertation Abstract: Background: Mental well-being is a state in which an individual acts positively, feels good, copes with the daily stressors and contributes to his/her community. Adolescents are a population who experience the various stressors brought on by growing up. The purpose of the doctoral dissertation is to determine the mental well-being of adolescents in correlation with the support of family, friends, teachers, and nurses.
Methods: The research was based on the paradigm of pragmatism which supports the usage of quantitative and qualitative approaches using mixed methods. The quantitative part of the research included 2 972 adolescents. The survey method was used, descriptive and inferential statistics and presentation of the results were done with the help of tables, charts and figures. In the qualitative part of the research, data were collected using the interview method. Interviews were conducted with 5 focus groups involving 16 adolescents, 8 parents, 6 teachers, 3 legislators, and 6 nurses. The data were analysed following the steps of Corbin & Strauss (2008).
Results: The mental well-being of adolescents is positively related (r = 0.624) to their social support. The mental well-being (r = -0.286) and social support (r = -0.239) of adolescents declines with age. Adolescents are of the opinion that the role of the nurse is to talk to them, help them, advise them, and explain difficulties that bother them. The mental well-being of adolescents is related to their interaction and interpersonal relations with parents, friends, and teachers. In ensuring the mental well-being of adolescents, we must consider the model multidimensional well-being. The Model of Interpersonal Relationships is proposed, which is formed based on the results of quantitative and qualitative part of the research and taking into account the concepts of the Theory of Interpersonal Relationships (Peplau, 1952) and the model of Multidimensional Well-being (Sarriera & Bedin, 2017).
Discussion: Mental well-being is an important and relatively new concept in nursing. Adolescents’ mental well-being is closely linked to interpersonal relationships and a safe environment in which they can express themselves. Adolescents and parents do not obtain the necessary professional help in a timely manner. There is also a need for additional education on the mental well-being of adolescents among adolescents, parents, teachers, and nurses.
Conclusion: Interpersonal relationships between adolescents, family, friends, teachers, and nurses are of major importance for ensuring mental well-being. There is a need for further research to improve the mental well-being of adolescents worldwide.
Keywords: youth, mental health, quality of life, social support, nursing
Published in DKUM: 12.09.2022; Views: 895; Downloads: 251
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6. Adolescents as delinquent actors and as targets of preventive measuresAnabel Taefi, Thomas Görgen, Benjamin Kraus, 2013, original scientific article Abstract: Purpose:
The article aims at examining the prevalence of deviance and delinquency in a sample of students, at explaining property and violent offending via risk factors and examining students’ experiences with and views on preventive approaches.
Design/Methods/Approach:
Data stem from a school survey conducted among 2186 13–17 year old male and female students, who attended school in an urban or a rural northwest area of Germany. The instrument was developed on the basis of the new ISRD-3 questionnaire and included newly developed questions on students’ experiences with and views on preventive actors and approaches. Descriptive as well as multivariate methods are applied.
Findings:
Deviance and delinquency were found to be widespread, but mostly of low severity. Different predictors for violent and property offending can be found. Groups of students with differential involvement in delinquency show clearly differentiated profiles with regard to risk factors. Evaluations of preventive actors and approaches are very similar across groups of students with differential delinquent involvement.
Research Limitations / Implications:
Special schools have been excluded from the sample. Generally, school surveys may fail at including high risk individuals, such as students who skip school.
Practical Implications:
Findings hint at the importance of including peers and family in preventive approaches.
Originality/Value:
Extension of a self-report study among youngsters as targets of prevention with questions on their experiences and evaluations of preventive approaches may give implications on differential receptiveness of young people for preventive approaches.
Keywords: self-reports, deviance and delinquency, prevention, youth violence, substance abuse
Published in DKUM: 23.04.2020; Views: 1047; Downloads: 27
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7. Youth drug and crime prevention practices in Hungary as reflected in the opinions of students and professionalsFruzsina Albert, Olga Tóth, 2013, original scientific article Abstract: Purpose:
In this article, we will try to compare how different actors view/experience current prevention practices of youth delinquency in Hungary.
Design/Methods/Approach:
We use both qualitative and quantitative data regarding the views of the professionals involved in working with young people and 14–17 year old students’ opinions on existing prevention programs on youth violence and delinquent behaviour and their perceived effectiveness.
Findings:
The repressive approach, although increasingly important, is not considered very effective. The educational system seems to be the best framework for prevention, but also community development should be important, as useful freetime activities and locations for such are widely missing. Central policy making efforts could be useful to introduce elements of crime prevention (in the broadest sense) in the school curricula. There is a significant difference between the opinion of students and professionals regarding the role of teachers in prevention activities. While experts consider that teachers should play an increased role in prevention in the future, young people are often quite sceptical about these actors.
Originality/Value:
A unique feature of this article is that it brings together and can reflect opinions of the actors involved in prevention.
Keywords: youth delinquency, crime prevention programs, efficiency, Hungary
Published in DKUM: 23.04.2020; Views: 1007; Downloads: 31
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8. Giving voice to 'youth of today' : young peoples views and perspectives on youth crime and its prevention in BelgiumAnneke Evenepoel, Jenneke Christiaens, 2013, original scientific article Abstract: Purpose:
The aim of this article is to present findings on a study into the field of prevention of youth crime and deviance in Belgium. This research took place within the framework of a European study YouPrev that involved six European countries.
Design/Methods/Approach:
On one hand, a school survey was conducted with youngsters aged between 14 and 17 years in three regions: an urban, a semi-rural/urban and a rural area. Based on the new ISRD-3, in addition to classic self-report questions, the instrument also focused on young people’s views and perceptions regarding practices and initiatives aimed at preventing youth delinquency. To enhance the richness of these results, group discussions and interviews with youngsters were organised in the same regions, addressing the same topic.
Findings:
The major finding was that the youngsters that participated in the study do not seem to be part of classical prevention target groups. They attach great importance to informal actors in controlling and preventing youth crime (while formal actors like police, social work and prevention services are the main professions involved in Belgium). When it comes to their possible deviant behaviour, the survey pointed out that the majority appear not to use alcohol and drugs in a problematic way, and they don’t seem to have much contact with police or other legal actors. Furthermore, the respondents have very limited experience with and knowledge about prevention activities in their area, not only about secondary and tertiary but also general prevention initiatives. This could imply that the ‘best’ prevention is the activity that is not brought forward and perceived as such, a new hypothesis that would be interesting for further research.
Research Limitations / Implications:
Conducting research in the field of prevention should move beyond the school and more into the field of prevention practices, from different epistemological perspectives. This implies that the actual target groups of these practices should be included and be given a voice. If we want to find out more about ‘best practices’ in the prevention of youth crime, it is essential to question the views and perspectives of youngsters who were actually involved in prevention projects.
Practical Implications:
To take into account the views of the target groups in the study of the field of youth crime prevention may open up new, and maybe very different, directions for policy and practice on how to approach and react to youth delinquency and deviance. In an European Study regarding the prevention of youth deviance and violence (“YouPrev: Youth deviance and youth violence: A European multi-agency perspective on best practices in prevention and control”), Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain have conducted surveys among 13 to 17 year old students. Based on the new ISRD-3 instrument, in addition to the classic selfreport questions, the survey also focused on their perceptions and views regarding practices and initiatives aimed at preventing youth delinquency. In this article, we will present the results collected in Belgium. The aim is to stimulate reflection and contribute to the international discussion regarding a very popular topic today by adding the perspective of the seemingly ‘unpopular’ key players.
Keywords: prevention, youth crime, young people’s perspective, Belgium
Published in DKUM: 23.04.2020; Views: 1119; Downloads: 34
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9. The transition of young people from study to employment in the light of student workVesna Novak, Anja Žnidaršič, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Background and Purpose: We are living in a time of accelerated globalization, which has a far-reaching impact for youth employment. Therefore, the paper presents the problem of the transition of tertiary educated young people into the working environment in terms of the importance of education and gaining work experience during their studies. The main purpose of the study was to analyze the attitudes and thinking of students regarding the selection of studies and work experience that young people are gaining during their studies with student work in connection with their job prospects.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The data used in our research come from a broader research on Slovenian Youths (SY) dating back to 2013. Among all the respondents of SY we selected those who classified themselves as students aged between 19 and 24, who filled out the part of the questionnaire pertaining to employment. The research hypotheses were tested with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent samples t-test.
Results: We found that among students who chose to study for different reasons there were differences in the belief that they will immediately find employment after graduating. We also found that between those students who supported themselves during their studies and those who only studied there were differences in individual statements regarding their transition from education to employment. We concluded that work during their studies, especially in the field of the profession they were studying for, had a positive impact on the thinking of students pertaining to the transition toward employment.
Conclusion: The analysis of employment issues faced by young people with tertiary education was supported by empirical data, while in conclusion suggestions for improvement were presented. The article also deepens the understanding of the problems of youth employment in a broader perspective and the understanding of the observed developments in society.
Keywords: youth employment, tertiary education, work experience, job search
Published in DKUM: 10.10.2018; Views: 1988; Downloads: 354
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10. The level of youth activism : case study of the city of BelgradeTatjana Borojević, Drago Vuk, Nataša Petrović, Dragoslav Slović, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: During the period from 2007 to 2014, and in addition to huge institutional changes, large steps were taken in the field of youth policy in the Republic of Serbia in order to create national resources which would have influence on the improvement of the youth status and life. On the other hand, the practice shows that the existence of the national framework for youth support, as a local service network intended for youths, is not a crucial prerequisite to change the current situation when it comes to improving the quality of life of young people, but that the existence of the critical level of youth activism is a key driving force that leads to changes. This paper presents an overview of the level of youth activism in the city of Belgrade. The results show that young people accept a proactive attitude to life when it comes to their personal or family problems and issues whilst the engagement in the social field and especially a political one are not seen as a preferable type of behaviour.
Keywords: youth, youth activism, participation, level of youth activism
Published in DKUM: 20.11.2017; Views: 1186; Downloads: 176
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