scholarly journals Trends of Positive Youth Development Publications (1995–2020): A Scientometric Review

Author(s):  
Shaojie Qi ◽  
Fengrui Hua ◽  
Zheng Zhou ◽  
Daniel T. L. Shek

AbstractIn recent decades, the positive youth development approach has gained momentum among researchers and practitioners who focus on youth potential and adolescent well-being. In this study, 1435 academic works on positive youth development (PYD) are collected from the Web of Science using CiteSpace, reviewed and analyzed. First, the number, subject distribution, country, and institution of published papers are presented, and the author collaboration network involved in PYD is analyzed using network analysis. The results show that authors and institutions in Western societies are the main contributors to PYD research and that interdisciplinary collaboration is gradually growing. Using document co-citation analysis, research hotspots in the field were investigated. Furthermore, the research frontiers and trendy topics in PYD from 2010 to 2019 were found by using burst detection, and research gaps were identified. The findings provide research directions for future PYD studies in the field of applied quality of life research.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12388
Author(s):  
Marco Giancola ◽  
Maria Chiara Pino ◽  
Simonetta D’Amico

The current study explored, in a sample of 219 young Italian adults (105 M; 114 F; mean age = 22.10 years; SD = 2.69; age range = 18–29), the contribution of the five psychosocial skills (Five Cs) identified by the Positive Youth Development approach (competence, confidence, character, connection, and caring) to sustainable behaviors, including pro-ecological, frugal, altruistic. and equitable actions. We performed four regression analyses, in which the Five Cs were the independent variables and pro-ecological, frugal, altruistic, and equitable behaviors were the dependent ones. Results reveal that character predicted pro-ecological and frugal behaviors, whereas competence was a significant antecedent of altruism. In addition, we found that caring predicted pro-ecological and altruistic actions while connection was a positive predictor of equity. These findings suggest that psychosocial resources could be crucial for sustainability, opening new possibilities for research and intervention in order to promote sustainable practices that could guarantee the well-being of the present and forthcoming generations. Limits and future research directions are also discussed.


Author(s):  
Xiang Li ◽  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Esther Y. W. Shek

Although mental health problems among Hong Kong university students are serious, there is a lack of studies examining the psychometric properties of related assessment scales and correlates. This study attempted to validate the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) in Hong Kong university students and examine the demographic (gender), time (cohort), and well-being correlates (positive youth development attributes and life satisfaction) of psychological morbidity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure of the DASS (n = 6704). Gender and cohort invariance were further established using a multigroup CFA. The three-factor model of the DASS showed a superior fit and factorial invariance across gender and five different cohorts. Regarding gender and cohort correlates of psychological morbidity, males exhibited more depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms than their female counterparts. The intensity of psychological distress also escalated after the Umbrella Movement in 2014. Furthermore, well-being measures (positive youth development and life satisfaction) were negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. In short, the Chinese DASS demonstrated good psychometric properties. This study also showed that gender, cohort (occurrence of political events), and well-being were associated with psychological morbidity indexed by the DASS measures.


2010 ◽  
Vol 49 (4II) ◽  
pp. 863-879
Author(s):  
Rashida Haq Rashida Haq ◽  
Azkar Ahmed ◽  
Siama Shafique

Since quality of life research is essentially concerned with measuring and monitoring welfare. In order to measure quality of life, one must have a theory of what makes up a good life [Cobb (2000)]. There is a variety of such theories and notions of what constitutes a ‗good life‘ and correspondingly different concepts of welfare and quality of life have been developed. Various approaches and operationalisations are to be distinguished, each of which reveals a different concept of welfare and thus highlights different components and dimensions [Noll (2000)]. Among the various efforts to operationalise welfare in general and the quality of life concept in particular, two contrary approaches are to be distinguished, which define the two extreme positions on a broad continuum of concepts currently available: the Scandinavian level of living approach [Erickson (1993)] and the American quality of life approach [Campbell (1976)]. The Scandinavian approach focuses almost exclusively on resources and objective living conditions, whereas the American approach emphasises the subjective well-being of individuals as a final outcome of conditions and processes.


Dementia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 1858-1895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A Hebert ◽  
Kezia Scales

Background Dementia friendly initiatives share similarities with the age-friendly movement in a focus on active engagement and creating a good quality of life for older adults. Dementia friendly initiatives offer a welcoming optimistic narrative in dementia studies by embracing dignity, empowerment, and autonomy to enable well-being throughout the dementia trajectory. Purpose The purpose of this review is to explore the current science of dementia friendly initiatives, identify gaps, and inform future research. Method Quantitative, qualitative, and conceptual/theoretical peer-reviewed dementia friendly research literature were evaluated for their current evidence base and theoretical underpinnings. Results The dementia friendly initiatives research base is primarily qualitative and descriptive focused on environmental design, dementia awareness and education, and the development of dementia friendly communities. Person-centered care principles appear in dementia friendly initiatives centered in care settings. Strong interdisciplinary collaboration is present. Research is needed to determine the effect of dementia friendly initiatives on stakeholder-driven and community-based outcomes. Due to the contextual nature of dementia, the perspective of persons with dementia should be included as dementia friendly initiatives are implemented. Theory-based studies are needed to confirm dementia friendly initiative components and support rigorous evaluation. Dementia friendly initiatives broaden the lens from which dementia is viewed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 175-196
Author(s):  
Marija Bingulac

Roma continue to face numerous challenges in Serbia, including disproportionately high rates of illiteracy and school dropout, poverty, unemployment, and discrimination. The Serbian government has pursued education policies relevant for Romani children and youth, but implementation efforts have not resulted in educational inclusion nor in raising the economic situation of the Roma citizens. This chapter presents participatory evaluation results of an alternative educational program in Belgrade, Serbia, that uses the positive youth development (PYD) framework to assist marginalized Roma youth to enroll in the mainstream educational system. This mixed-method study consisted of in-depth interviews with 80 respondents and an empirical analysis of an original survey of financial well-being used to assess the overall impact of the program. Perhaps most importantly, the voices of the real experts on poverty and educational needs—the Romani youth and their families who have experienced these realities—personally are brought forth. One important finding highlights the need for both education and labor market policies to be designed and implemented in concert with each other and taking into account the need of Roma youth to contribute to families’ total income. Mainstream compulsory education can inadvertently hurt the Roma family who, with no expectations of long-term returns on educational attainment, view their son’s or daughter’s time in school as a loss of essential family income. These realities—a policy mismatch between what Roma need and government’s inclusion efforts—are explored in depth in this chapter.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Rachel C. F. Sun ◽  
Y. H. Chui ◽  
S. W. Lit ◽  
Walter W. Yuen ◽  
...  

With higher education, university graduates are important elements of the labor force in knowledge-based economies. With reference to the mental health and developmental problems in university students, there is a need to review university’s role in nurturing holistic development of students. Based on the positive youth development approach, it is argued that promoting intrapersonal competencies is an important strategy to facilitate holistic development of young people in Hong Kong. In The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a course entitled Tomorrow’s Leader focusing on positive youth development constructs to promote student well-being will be offered on a compulsory basis starting from 2012/13 academic year under the new undergraduate curriculum structure. The proposed course was piloted in 2010/11 school year. Different evaluation strategies, including objective outcome evaluation, subjective outcome evaluation, process evaluation, and qualitative evaluation, are being carried out to evaluate the developed course. Preliminary evaluation findings based on the piloting experience in 2010/11 academic year are presented in this paper.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document