Youth, Volume 3, Issue 1 (March 2023) – 32 articles

There are many different variations in sex characteristics, some of which have implications for how the body goes through puberty. This paper draws from critical disability studies and childhood and youth studies to understand the teenage experiences and aspirations of young people with variations in sex characteristics, focusing particularly on navigating puberty. We undertook a reflexive thematic analysis with interview data from 12 young people in England, all assigned female at birth. Our analysis produced a central theme: aspiring to certainty through “fixing” the wrong kind of puberty. Participants experience puberty as a time where things exist on a continuum of rightness and wrongness in comparison with their peers and in relation to their specific variation. We suggest that the neoliberal aspiration to and illusion of bodily control and certainty provides the context within which the medical management of variations in sex characteristics makes sense. Going through medical intervention in relation to a variation in sex characteristics provides a very particular aspirational context for young people. The experience of puberty is intersectionally differentiated for young people with variations in sex characteristics. Full article

In the aftermath of a global health pandemic, youth mental health is a public-health emergency. The acceleration of digital technologies, catalysed by COVID-19, has seen the growing significance of online support and social media for promoting health behaviours. This exploratory study utilised a participatory-action research (PAR) design to investigate adolescents’ (N = 10; aged 16–18) perceptions and experiences of social media with respect to mental-wellbeing content. Data were collected using a focus-group method. Young people (YP) also evaluated digital resources adapted from the Super Skills for Life (SSL-A) intervention. Thematic analysis elicited three thematic categories: young people’s relationship with social media, perceptions and experiences of support pathways, and cultivating mental-health and wellbeing provision for a digital generation. Findings revealed that YP were discerning digital citizens and willing to use technologies for support. Although exposure to social-media images and videos can convey social norms and shape normative perceptions of healthy wellbeing, mental-health literacy was a critical factor prompting change. Future co-production research is needed to design, develop, and evaluate digital resources adapted from evidence-based programmes to contribute to hybrid models of mental-wellbeing provision that can offer YP timely and appropriate support and a choice of delivery modalities. Full article

The use of electronic cigarettes among young people has been increasing in recent years. Electronic cigarettes are marketed in ways that attract young people and downplay the risks of these products. For example, electronic cigarettes are available in a variety of flavours, such as mint or chocolate, and it can be quite challenging for young people to understand the potential harms of these products when they are marketed through enticing advertisements under the veil of harmless flavours. Moreover, recent research has shown that electronic cigarette usage may be disproportionately higher for youth with lower socioeconomic status. It is well documented in the literature that electronic cigarettes can have a multitude of negative health impacts on young people. Electronic cigarette use affects all biopsychosocial domains, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, mental health, substance use, and interpersonal relationships. Given the increase in electronic cigarette use and lower levels of understanding of the harms these products can have on health, it is essential to develop additional strategies to ensure that young people are made aware of the risks associated with the use of electronic cigarettes. We propose a five factor model that aims to provide support to policymakers, educators, health care professionals, families, and youth. For policymakers, it is necessary to develop policies that limit the access the youth have to electronic cigarettes. In educational settings, educators can incorporate education on electronic cigarettes in the classroom. Health care professionals should have access to tools to ensure they feel comfortable discussing the risks of electronic cigarettes with their young patients. Additionally, families should have access to evidence-based information on the risks associated with electronic cigarettes and on how to communicate with their children about electronic cigarettes. Finally, we should aim to directly reach youth and communicate the potential risks of electronic cigarette use through the social media platforms that they frequent. Ultimately, this paper provides a model that can be used by various stakeholders involved in the public health system. Moving forward, implementing and conducting short, intermediate and long-term evaluation of this model can provide insight into its effectiveness in communicating the risks associated with electronic cigarette use for young people. Full article

The recent acceleration in divorce rates and diversification of nuclear families has resulted in an increase in single-parent households. Divorce is one of the most adverse events in a child’s life. Various literature highlights the detrimental effects of parental divorce on children and adolescents, but few studies have emphasized possible support strategies or interventions available to assist in the mental health of adolescents after divorce. The objective of this study was to gain an overview of the strategies and interventions available to adolescents exposed to parental divorce. The current study employed a scoping review method to evaluate the coverage of literature on strategies available to support adolescent mental health after parental divorce. The following databases were searched: Academic Search Premier, Africa-Wide Information, African Journal Online, CINAHL, and JSTOR. A total of eight studies were included in this review. The results show that most mental health interventions target the known mediator of risk, such as parenting problems or family conflict. Although the parents, caregivers, or teachers of these adolescents reported improvement after the intervention, the adolescents reported no effect. Full article

In ultimate games governed by the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), all competitors also take on the role of referee. The players discuss disputed calls with each other during the game, and then follow rules designed for these situations to determine how the play continues. The number one rule of the sport is to respect the spirit of the game (SOTG), which encourages competitive play while preserving mutual respect and minimizing the risk of injury. The use of SOTG in ultimate in the framework of self-arbitration as a moral practice aligns well with other tools of critical pedagogy. For this study, the SOTG scores of the WFDF Joint Junior Ultimate Championship (JJUC 2022) were analyzed. A total of 1009 players from 19 countries competed in 434 self-refereed games (29 national teams in the WJUC Under-20 (U20) tournament and 20 teams in the EYUC Under-17 (U17) tournament). All the scores from the individual criteria correlated well with the overall scores, but for the most part, they did not correlate with each other. Our experience with the scoring system has highlighted the importance of participants understanding the meaning of the results and how they may lead to a constructive reflection to improve exceptions, including scores representing fouls and rules knowledge. The findings provide important information for physical education teachers, coaches, and sport consultants and may be of use to design SOTG programs that could foster the experience of sportsmanship and to facilitate the ethical conduct of athletes in either recreative or in competitive contexts. Full article

It has been claimed that, in many countries and societies, there has been a generational change in youth values towards postmodern values that indicate postmaterialism. This paper tests that proposition by comparing youth values and solidarity attitudes in the Nordic welfare state of Finland among Generation X (born in the 1960s and 1970s) and Millennials (born in the 1980s and 1990s). The data were gathered from young people in 1992, 1995, 2011, and 2015 by same attitude scales relating to solidarity, environmental issues, gender, work, science and technology, immigration, economic well-being, and politics. Factor analysis was used to identify the value structures of young people. Common to the value structures of both generations were humanism, traditionalism, individualism, and globalism. The findings indicate a decline in postmaterialist values during the periods of economic recession, which affected solidarity attitudes. It was easier, for example, to show solidarity towards people of one’s own country than to people of foreign countries. Generation X youth presented a more socio-democratic type of solidarity towards citizens, while Millennials showed liberal solidarity towards the poor. Young females of both generations were more likely to support postmaterialistic values, such as gender equality, tolerance of different ethnic groups, globalization, and environmentalism. By contrast, young males had more materialist values and greater faith in science and technology. Positive attitudes towards the future were found among young Millennials, which could support the broad identity horizon. Young people of Millennials showed greater variety in their value structures than the young people of Generation X. They revealed neoliberal attitudes in their value structures, which came closer to the ideology of economic liberalization. Nationalist values were also found among the young people of Millennials. The research findings and implication will be critically discussed. Full article

This pilot study aimed primarily to investigate the association between perceived physical literacy (PL) and participation in organised sports and self-organised physical activity (PA) in female youth athletes and non-athletes. A secondary purpose was to investigate the association between perceived PL and physical fitness among female youth athletes. A convenient sample of 18 female youth soccer athletes (age: 14.56 ± 1.42 years) and 18 female youth non-athletes (age: 14.22 ± 1.22) underwent anthropometric measurements and responded to PL and PA questionnaires. The athletes completed physical fitness tests (e.g., cardiopulmonary, isokinetic, handgrip, and jump tests). The results indicated that the female athletes presented significantly higher scores for perceived PL and self-organised PA compared to the non-athletes. The PL components ‘sense of self and self-confidence’ and ‘knowledge and understanding’ were significantly associated with self-organised PA in both the athletes and the non-athletes, as well as with organised sports. An association was found between the total PL score for the athletes and the squat jump (r = 0.50), flexibility (r = 0.59), and left hamstring (r = 0.51) physical tests. The positive association between the self-perceived PL of female youth and their involvement in both organised sports and self-organised PA may help them fulfil their potential and also value and take responsibility for getting involved in PA for life. Full article

Successes and failures are integral outcomes to the sport experience. Based on decades of research, how athletes process both outcomes influence their thoughts, emotions, and subsequent achievement endeavors. Attribution theory details three dimensions as to the causes of success and failure. Since the 1980s, attribution theory has found a home in sport psychology literature. However, research across countries requires valid and reliable questionnaires. One such country is Croatia where attribution research is scant. Thus, in a Croatian combat athlete sample, we examined athletes’ attributions for the most and least successful performances via retrospection. Croatian athletes (N = 154) from three combat sports (judo, karate, and taekwondo) who all competed at least once on an international stage completed the Croatian Causal Dimension Scale-II, answered in reference to a specific reason for their best and worst competitive experience. Results showed that the combat sport athletes attributed their most and least successful competitive achievement to psychological reasons more than other reasons (i.e., general preparation and physical preparation). Furthermore, based on a series of two-tailed paired samples t-tests and the nonparametric equivalent, Wilcoxon signed rank test, the participants made, from small to medium in meaningfulness (Cohen’s d), more internal (d = 0.30), stable (d = 0.56), personal (d = 0.30), and external (d = 0.21) controllable attributions for success than for failure (all t-test p-values < 0.01). Our results suggest the athletes made the self-serving attribution bias across both the success and failure competitive events. Our results contribute to better understanding of specific reasons for success and failure and the attribution dimensions explaining the competitive outcomes in competitive combat sport. Specific to Croatian sport, our results provide Croatian combat sport with theory driven research applicable to improving development of Croatian combat athletes on the international stage. Full article

Scholars posit that gratitude may enhance other-oriented beliefs and behaviors and dampen self-oriented ones through a cycle of upward generativity. We examined associations between gratitude as an indicator of self-orientation (i.e., materialism and entitlement) and other orientation (i.e., connection to nature; attitudes, beliefs, and conversations about social justice; prosocial behavior) in the US youth across six months as moderated by race/ethnicity and gender. Specifically, Study 1 evaluated the psychometric performance of the gratitude moments scale in a more racially and ethnically diverse sample than that included in the original scale development. In study 2, we evaluated pre-registered hypotheses among the youth who completed surveys in October 2020 and again in January 2021 (n = 812). These hypotheses tested (1) whether there were ethnic/racial differences in the measure of children’s gratitude; (2) whether there were reciprocal associations over time between children’s gratitude and indices of self and other orientation; and (3) whether these reciprocal associations varied as a function of youth race/ethnicity and gender. The results of study 1 found that the gratitude moments scale demonstrated high reliability and validity in racially/ethnically diverse young adolescents (n = 89). Using moderated nonlinear factor analysis in study 2, we found only one difference in how the gratitude moments scale performed as a function of race/ethnicity or gender. In cross-lagged panel models, gratitude moments did not predict subsequent self- and other-orientation indices, though youth with lower social justice attitudes and greater prosocial behavior showed increases in later gratitude moments. Prosocial behavior was more strongly and consistently related to self- and other-orientation indices than gratitude. These findings are consistent with models of prosocial behavior as a catalyst for the development of additional forms of other-oriented beliefs, attitudes, and actions that may underlie the development of an other-oriented purpose. Full article

Background: The “Guidelines for the Management of Specific Learning Disorders” provide clear diagnostic and evaluative guidance on Reading Comprehension Disorder (RCD), as suggested by the DSM-5. The present study investigated the relationship between cognitive abilities in university students with RCD compared to students with Decoding Difficulties—i.e., dyslexia (DD)—and examined possible diagnostic procedures for RCD in young adults. Methods: Twenty university students from the University of Salerno “Disabilities/SLD Help Desk” participated. The sample was divided into the RCD Group (10) and DD Group (10). They were administered (a) the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) to assess their cognitive profile; and (b) the LSC-SUA-Reading tests for the assessment of text comprehension, writing, and calculation skills. Results: With regard to their cognitive profile, the DD Group had a lower mean of FSIQ (91.90 ± 5.82 vs. 92.50 ± 2.41). The RCD Group showed higher means in the subscales of CPI (94.80 ± 5.77), WMI (91.80 ± 78.80), and PSI (101.20 ± 6.20). Text comprehension assessment showed high averages in the DD Group (Track A = 11.50 ± 1.08; Track B = 11.40 ± 0.95). Conclusions: A valid psychodiagnostic model to examine reading comprehension skills for adults must assess the interaction between higher-level linguistic and cognitive processes in order to best define the pathways of skill enhancement. Full article

Background: The aim of this paper is to describe the development of a shared housing model intervention that was designed to serve youth experiencing homelessness who are LGBTQ+ and/or pregnant/parenting. The intervention is built around two guiding philosophies: housing first and restorative justice. Methods: We engaged in a year-long planning process with an advisory group from 1 July 2021 through 30 June 2022. The advisory group is a partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work, seven young people with lived experience expertise, and members from four partner organizations, including local organizations serving LGBTQ+ youth. Results: Marsha and Marian’s Neighbors is designed to provide safe, comfortable housing for 12 months for 20 young people and their children if they have any. Participants will live in apartments where rent and utilities are paid for by the program for all participants. The program also provides money for arrears that may prevent the participants from being able to secure a lease, mental health appointments, legal consultations, and doula services provided by partners recruited by the planning team. Services are provided by staff and partners that are LGBTQ+ affirming and pregnant and parenting affirming. Conclusion: One of the most important lessons that we learned is the power of developing shared values in a novel intervention for LGBTQ+ youth. One focused intervention that supports both pregnant and parenting youth who identify as LGBTQ+ remains necessary. Paradoxically, LGBTQ+ people, particularly bisexual, lesbian, and queer cisgender women, are at an equal or greater risk of unplanned pregnancy. Both groups are vulnerable to housing instability independently, and those who live at the intersection of being LGBTQ+ and pregnant/parenting face an elevated risk for housing instability. Full article

Physical activity (PA), sleep, and weight are important factors for youth health. However, data about these factors are unknown in youth living in isolated Alaska Native communities. This study aims to assess PA, sleep, height and weight in elementary through high school students living in Anaktuvuk Pass. Fourteen children (<12) and 24 youths (12–20) volunteered to participate in this study. PA and sleep data were collected with actigraphy. Height and weight were assessed with standard procedures. Demographics were collected via survey. Results show that 10.53% and 18.42% of participants were overweight and obese, respectively. Average bedtime was 00:15 am and wake time 08:23 am. Total sleep time was 498.21 min. Participants averaged 477.64 min in sedentary activity, 297.29 min in light activity, 150.66 min in moderate activity, and 18.05 min in vigorous activity. Adjusted models suggest that high school students engage in significantly more sedentary activity, and significantly less light, moderate, and vigorous activity compared to those in middle and elementary school. All students engaged in less moderate and vigorous activity on the weekend compared to the weekday. Data suggest that as children age they become more sedentary. Future studies should focus on increasing daily PA in high school students while considering other obesogenic factors. Full article

The policy orientations of advanced neoliberal democracies situate young people as rational actors who are responsible for their own career outcomes. While career scholars have been critical of how this routinely ignores the unequal effects of structural constraints on personal agency, they have long suggested that young people should have access to the best available ‘roadmaps’ and advice to navigate the uncertainties baked into the contemporary economic landscape. Complementing the significant attention that is given to the (potentially emancipatory) experience of formal careers guidance, we present findings from a multi-method study. We explore young Australians’ (aged 15–24) navigation of careers information through a nationally representative survey (n = 1103), focus groups with 90 participants and an analysis of 15,227 social media comments. We suggest that the variety of formal and informal sources pursued and accessed by young people forms a relational ‘ecology’. This relationality is twofold. First, information is often sequential, and engagements with one source can inform the experience or pursuit of another. Second, navigation of the ecology is marked by a high level of intersubjectivity through interpersonal support networks including peers, family and formal service provision. These insights trouble a widespread, but perhaps simplistic, reading of young people having largely internalised a neoliberal sensibility of ‘entrepreneurial selfhood’ in their active pursuit of a range of career advice. Throughout our analysis, we attend to the ways that engagement in the career information ecology is shaped by social inequalities, further underscoring challenges facing careers guidance and social justice goals. Full article

This paper offers insights into the nexus of youth, masculinity, and right-wing populism in Australia. Here, we make reference to a wide body of international literature that suggests some affinity between disenfranchised (white) working-class young men and radical right ideas. Survey data were collected for a project on masculinity and the far right in Australia. A total of 203 young male informants worked primarily in ‘blue collar’ sectors of the Australian labour force. Some survey responses located them partly or potentially within the field of the populist right-wing, with many expressing anti-government sentiments and the discourse of white male victimhood. The majority were nostalgic for stereotypical masculinity. While right-wing populist movements across the world certainly differ, they often share a discourse promoting traditional gender roles. Full article

The increasing importance of identifying lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) populations is a key driver in changes to demographic data collection in representative surveys of youth. While such population-based data are rare, Growing Up in Ireland (GUI), an Irish, government-funded, longitudinal survey, includes sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) measurements. This qualitative study responds to a query from the GUI study team and aims to identify how best to collect SOGI data in future waves of GUI. A university Human Research Ethics Committee granted approval for online consultations with LGBT+ youth (n = 6) with experiential expertise in policy making. The research is underpinned by rights-based public patient involvement (PPI) with recorded discussions, which were transcribed and imported into NVivo 12, generating the theme “recognition in research, policy and society”. This co-created article, with the LGBT+ young PPI Panel members, commends the inclusion of SOGI data in GUI and recommends changes in question placement and phrasing. Aligning with best practice, the PPI members provide a template for wording on consecutive sex and gender questions, expanded sexual orientation identity categories and maintaining the existing well-phrased transgender question from GUI. This offers potential to improve the quality of the SOGI data collected and the experience of those completing the questionnaire. These findings extend beyond GUI, with relevance for surveys with youth populations. This paper underscores the potential and benefits of participatory approaches to research with youth and views their role beyond simply as sources of data. Full article

Parents of autistic children report higher levels of parenting stress than any other child-related disabilities, with atypical child behaviour being identified as a key contributor to stress. As stress causes many negative health problems, it is important to understand what interventions are reportedly effective to reduce parenting stress in the literature. Five electronic databases—Cochrane, ProQuest, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus—were searched for relevant literature focusing on stress reduction intervention studies, studies on parents of children diagnosed with ASD, and publications no older than ten years. The PRISMA 2020 checklist was used for reporting. A total of 11 articles from 169 were included, including 22 interventions identified and categorised based on theoretical approach, i.e., Applied Behavioural Analysis, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Humanistics, and psychoeducation. The evidence synthesised advocates for an integrative approach, such as Mindfulness-Based Positive Behaviour Support, an evidence-based practice approach that appears to offer greater advantages in reducing parenting stress. The implications of our results can inform educators and practitioners regarding available stress interventions for parents of children with ASD. Our findings warrant rigorous design research such as randomised controlled trials to be conducted to further identify the effects of these interventions. Full article

Texting-based crisis counseling is increasingly used to reach young people in acute crisis. Drawing on the online disinhibition effect (ODE), this U.S. study explored how asynchronicity and invisibility contribute to how users reveal their presenting problem and engage with counseling. A random sample of 49 text crisis line sessions with youth averaging 18 years was used to assess response lag times and flow as well as their impact on the session. Interviews with crisis counselors provided supplemental context. Content analysis identified patterns in the presenting problem, reasons for response lags, and patterns in how the sessions ended. The overall duration of text sessions was substantially longer than that of voice calls, to cover comparable content. Users frequently multitasked or become engaged in other activities between texts, creating a more disjointed flow. This also allowed the user to take time with responses to difficult questions. Counselors had to match their pace with users, make decisions when to discontinue the session, and use intentional language to develop a therapeutic connection. In line with the ODE framework, the findings suggested that the invisible nature of texting allowed users to reach out for help at the moment they needed it, regardless of their location. Implications for using texting-based interfaces are discussed. Full article

In this paper we draw on stories of schooling as told by three transgender secondary school graduates. The study does not aim to be generalizable or ‘speak’ for the educational experiences of all Australian transgender-identifying students. The study is framed by first person articulations of what a trans-positive educational experience might involve. The paper leverages a life-history approach in which the participants rearticulate the influence that cisnormative school environments and media practices had on their transition timeframes. Throughout the life-history interviews conducted in a focus group, the participants considered the concept of how a trans-positive educational approach could be deployed in schools to develop services and resources that align with the findings of the National LGBTIQ Health Alliance, 2020. Full article

Previous research into queer or LGBTQ+ youth homelessness has relied upon samples recruited from shelters or the streets; such strategies might miss the experiences of young people who are couchsurfing. Couchsurfing is a growing form of homelessness in many countries, including Australia. Here, drawing upon interviews with 31 young queer people, aged 16–27, who are or have recently couchsurfed, we map out their entry into homelessness, their previous use of social services, and their strategies for maintaining accommodation while couchsurfing. Respondents typically entered homelessness following a complex array of factors including deteriorating mental health, escalating family alienation, and stigmatisation following coming out. Once couchsurfing, most young people did not access services as they did not view themselves as homeless. Those who did were often told they were less of a priority given their roofed status. Finally, interviewees reported trading chores, rent, or sex to maintain housing. The difference between sex work and sexual exchange, as explained by young people, is also discussed. We conclude by suggesting a harm-reduction approach to understanding and serving young people. Full article

Little research has heretofore examined differences in the sexual well-being and sexual health outcomes between female and male youth in the foster care system. This cross-sectional study examined these differences and as well as how sexual identity development impacts sexual well-being using a sample of 217 youth formerly in the foster care system. It found that females have lower levels of overall sexual well-being, lower scores on several components of sexual well-being, and more negative sexual health outcomes than males. The four domains of sexual identity development explored all predicted overall sexual well-being for both females and males, with a pronounced negative impact of being a gay male. These results support the importance of sexual identity development and indicate that the sexual health needs of females within the foster care system are not being addressed as well as those of their male counterparts. To address these discrepancies professionals and caregivers working with youth in the foster care system need to be attuned to the specific needs of female youth and work to address these needs in a manner that considers their gender. Full article

This paper uses Danish population-based administrative registers to study contemporary school-to-work transitions among young adults who experience long-term NEET episodes between age 16 and 20. By applying sequence analysis and clustering, this paper identifies five distinct transition patterns. Using this typology as the outcome variable in multinomial regression the paper offers insight into how experiences and circumstances, developing until age 16, can affect the subsequently unfolding transition process. Finally, the paper looks ahead and describes whether transitional difficulty accumulates into early adulthood. While one transition pattern stands out as more stable and less worrying, three of the remaining four demonstrate how transitional difficulty between age 16 and 20 develops as precarious patterns of attachment to well-established systems within the Danish welfare state. It is further established that various childhood risk factors significantly increase the odds of experiencing precarious transition patterns. Finally, the analyses demonstrate how instability and risk during childhood and school-to-work transition extend into early adulthood for a large part of the study population. Full article

Young adults are less likely to seek professional help even though they are most likely to experience mental health problems. The aim of the present study was to investigate young adults’ attitudes towards mental illness and self-stigma of help-seeking, identify possible determinants of attitudes and self-stigma, and examine the association between attitudes towards mental illness and self-stigma of help-seeking. The sample consisted of 485 Greek young adults (24.5% men, 75.5% women) aged 18–25 years (M = 19.54, SD = 1.83) who completed the Attitudes towards Severe Mental Illness (ASMI) and the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale (SSOSH). The results indicated that Greek young adults hold mostly positive attitudes towards severe mental illness and help-seeking, while their unfavorable attitudes are mainly related to difficulties with viewing people with a severe mental disorder as similar to other people, and fear that by seeking professional help a person’s worth will be diminished. Gender, age, familiarity with mental health difficulties, education, and relationship status were found to be associated with young adults’ attitudes towards severe mental illness and self-stigma of help-seeking. Finally, stereotyping, pessimistic beliefs, and negative beliefs about coping with mental illness were identified as key determinants of self-stigma of help-seeking. These findings suggest a need for age- and gender-sensitive psychoeducational interventions specifically designed to promote young adults’ mental health literacy and to ameliorate unfavorable attitudes towards mental illness in order to increase help-seeking behavior. Full article

The utility of flexibility as a standard component of physical fitness has recently been questioned, sparking a heated debate among scientists. More specifically, it has recently been proposed to retire flexibility as a major component of physical fitness and as a result de-emphasis stretching from exercise prescriptions. The aim of this narrative review was to summarize and discuss the most recent evidence related to the chronic effects of static stretching (SS) on muscle strength, muscle power, muscle hypertrophy, and injury prevention in healthy individuals. A literature search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to November 2022. We only considered studies written in English that addressed the chronic effects of SS exercises on flexibility, muscle strength, muscle power, muscle hypertrophy, or injury prevention in healthy individuals. With reference to the existing knowledge, we concluded that flexibility deserves to be further considered as a standard component of physical fitness. This is based on the findings that in addition to flexibility, long-term SS training induces positive effects on muscle strength, muscle power, and muscle hypertrophy, irrespective of age and sex. There are also indications that long-term SS training could mitigate the risk of injury, although this remains a debatable topic. Furthermore, promising evidence shows that combining resistance training with SS exercises constitutes an effective approach benefiting muscle strength and hypertrophy more than resistance training alone. In conclusion, we would not support the recent suggestion that flexibility should be retired as a standard component of physical fitness and we would advocate for a continuous emphasis on the prescription of stretching exercises. Full article

Engagement in youth activism has been linked to both positive and negative wellbeing. Drawing on survey results from a sample of 636 youth participants in the ACLU Advocacy Institute, this study finds that although youth generally report greater benefits from their activism than costs, the costs are significantly related to worse mental health, physical health, and flourishing, while benefits are positively associated with flourishing only. A sense of belonging to an activist community, however, emerges as a significant protective factor for mental health, physical health, and flourishing. Focus group respondents explain how peer support and a sense of belonging act as salves to burnout, the most common cost that youth activists in this sample report experiencing. They also identify three main sources of burnout: backlash in response to their efforts; pressure to be the savior generation; and the slow progress of change. This study advances understanding of the complex relationship between youth activism and wellbeing and raises implications for youth activists and those who support them. Full article

The Internet is an important platform for providing sexual health information for emerging adults. However, less is known about what content is accessed, why it is accessed and what practical barriers exist. Emerging adulthood is a developmental period often associated with increased risky sexual behaviour. This study explored practical aspects of accessing online sexual health information including the type of content accessed, reasons for accessing informationand practical barriers to accessing websites. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was applied. Participants were 751 emerging adults aged 18–29 years old (M = 23.3; SD = 3.11), recruited from the Republic of Ireland. Participants completed an online survey including variables about demographics, Internet searches for sex-related information, reasons for conducting searches, important aspects and practical difficulties in accessing sexual health websites. Most participants reported using the Internet for sexual health information. Content accessed related to sexually transmitted infections, contraceptives and relationship advice. Reasons for conducting searches included curiosity, privacy and presence of infection. Important website factors were usefulness, ease of understanding and confidentiality. Practical barriers included difficulty filtering excess information, lack of relevant content and limited awareness of trusted sources. Differences were observed between genders and sexual orientations. The findings have implications for healthcare and/or public health professionals who are responsible for providing online sexual health resources for emerging adults. Full article

This study explores the experiences of LGBTQ2S+ youth while accessing mental health and substance use care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a series of facilitated virtual meetings, 33 LGBTQ2S+ youth from across Ontario participated in collaborative activities to identify barriers they have experienced when accessing mental health services, as well as potential solutions to these barriers. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that LGBTQ2S+ youth disproportionately experience bias, discrimination, and heteronormative assumptions when accessing mental health services, resulting in negative care experiences. Youth also reported insufficient availability of quality care, little continuity in care, and a lack of educated providers capable of effectively addressing the needs of the community. Potential solutions proposed by youth include training resources for providers, LGBTQ2S+ specific care centers, better continuity of care, and assessments to ensure care providers are culturally competent. These results show the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the disparities LGBTQ2S+ youth experience when accessing mental health services and highlight the urgent need to implement policies and programs that will advance the standards of care for LGBTQ2S+ youth. Full article

It is likely that young people who are both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and LGBTQA+ would be at increased risk for poor mental health outcomes due to the layered impacts of discrimination they experience; however, there is very little empirical evidence focused on the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people. The current study represents a qualitative exploration of wellbeing among Aboriginal LGBTQA+ young people. This study consisted of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with Aboriginal LGBTQA+ young people aged 14–25 years old in the Perth metropolitan area of Western Australia. Thematic analysis identified seven major themes that were significant to participants’ wellbeing: identity, family, community, visibility, services, stigma and navigating. Full article

Homelessness remains an enduring challenge for people from all backgrounds, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) young people disproportionately experience housing instability. Navigating structural oppressions tied to both their identities as well as economic inequalities can shape multiple mental health stressors for LGBTQ+ young adults. Despite these struggles, LGBTQ+ young people continue to persevere and hope, and their aspirations often prioritize processes of recovery. Healing pathways may involve forging bonds with pets or companion animals, which can be precarious in the context of homelessness. Through a radical healing framework, we qualitatively uplift the perspectives of 17 LGBTQ+ young adults (18–24) to illustrate how they may develop their wellbeing through pet caregiving and aspiration building while homeless. Participants highlighted the structural constraints of homelessness creating barriers to aspirations such as pet caregiving, but also how pets promoted their emotional wellbeing and motivation to hold onto their dreams. Findings point to avenues of service and intervention development that center LGBTQ+ young people’s hopes and dreams in homelessness beyond a sole focus on basic needs. Full article

The number of young adults who identify as transgender or gender expansive is rapidly growing in the U.S. Due to this rapid growth, healthcare providers are not properly informed on how to provide culturally competent healthcare and mental healthcare for this population. The sexual and gender-minority population has already been identified as a health-disparity population by the National Institutes of Health, so this lack of provider knowledge may add to the current health disparities of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+). In this research, we asked how young people who identify as transgender or gender expansive (TGE) seek information related to their health, mental health, and well-being and to understand how they connect to necessary resources to meet their healthcare needs. Participants responded to an online survey which included open-ended questions, and shared how they seek healthcare information and determine if that information is trustworthy. They also shared their own healthcare experiences and recommendations for their peers as they seek health and mental healthcare. Results indicate that many barriers to care still exist and that providers, agencies, and systems still have much work to do to meet the needs of this population. Full article