Out Online: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth on the Internet

This report examines the online experiences of LGBT students in 6-12th grade. LGBT youth experience nearly three times as much bullying and harassment online as non-LGBT youth, but also find greater peer support, access to health information and opportunities to be civically engaged

Empowered Youth, Healthy Sex and Relationships: The Implications of Positive Youth Development for Holistic Sexual Health in Emerging Adulthood

Most research on emerging adult sexuality has focused on narrow aspects of sexual health, primarily investigating the determinants of adverse sexual health consequences such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, individuals and their partners experience positive sexual health outcomes such as physical pleasure and intimacy that also define their sexual health. This dissertation applies a positive youth development (PYD) perspective to elucidate the adolescent contexts, attitudes, and behaviors that contribute to holistic sexual health in emerging adulthood (a period of increased independence and greater social acceptability of sexual exploration). I used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to: 1) identify constructs of developmental assets during adolescence (grades 7-12) that align with PYD and examine sociodemographic differences, and 2) explore the implications of PYD for seven outcomes representing holistic physical, emotional, and social aspects of sexual health among emerging adults (ages 18-26). Four latent constructs of PYD—confidence, autonomy, parental bonds, and community bonds—captured the positive personal and contextual attributes of adolescence that contribute to healthy development. Different population subgroups of youth reported varying degrees or perceptions of these PYD assets. In longitudinal models, strong bonds with parents in adolescence were associated with increased reciprocity of love between partners, and with increased enjoyment of oral sex and reduced risk of unintended pregnancy (among females only) in emerging adulthood. Autonomy was also associated with increased enjoyment of oral sex among females in emerging adulthood. Among emerging adults in current relationships lasting 3 months or longer, community bonds in adolescence were also related to increased enjoyment of oral sex for females, and increased love for partner and relationship quality for both males and females. Findings support the importance of PYD, particularly positive bonds with parents, for holistic sexual health in emerging adulthood. Notably, this expands the range of well-being indicators linked to positive parent-child relationships. Results add to the literature by identifying the developmental assets that promote long-term sexual health, and also those that might be lacking for some youth, all to inform sexual health promotion efforts that work to enhance multidimensional aspects of well-being.Doctor of Philosoph

Identity, citizenship, and moral constructs from the virtual self

Many young people now access digital networks that include individuals very unlike them who promote different cultural, religious and ethical value systems and behaviour. Such value systems can create conflicts of expectation for young people seeking to resolve their relationship to a national citizenship in a pluralistic society, especially if they are experiencing adolescent uncertainties or a growing awareness of social inequalities. The emergence of trans-national political structures and their differing value systems, together with the rise of international tensions, have increased uncertainty about the nature of identity and entitlement to a national citizenship. This paper describes the ongoing Citizens project study of identity development in young people, using real-world scenarios to discover the values that underpin their engagement with this wider range of religious and cultural value systems and to explore personal identity, political issues and citizenship

A measure of nature connectedness for children and adults: Validation, performance, and insights

With benefits to both human well-being and pro-nature conservation behaviors, nature connectedness is emerging as an important psychological construct for a sustainable future. The growing research and applied and policy-related interests require a straightforward measure of nature connectedness that is suitable for both children and adult populations. To establish the reliability of the new Nature Connection Index (NCI) three factor analyses were conducted. One was based on a large Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) dataset for adults (n = 3568) with a replication from data sets collected online (n = 553), and a third used MENE data from children (n = 351). To validate the NCI as a measure for nature connectedness an online comparison study (n = 153) included the NCI alongside other established measures. The results showed that the NCI was a reliable and valid scale that offers a short, simple alternative to other measures of nature connectedness, particularly for populations including both children and adults, measured face to face or online. The utility of the NCI is also supported, with variations associated with various pro-environmental and pro-conservation behaviors observed, and importantly the NCI also revealed changes in nature connectedness across the lifespan.N/

Cultural stressors and depressive symptoms: when is positive ethnic-racial affect protective for immigrant-origin emerging adults?

Although perceived ethnic discrimination and acculturative stress increase risk for depressive symptoms, less is known about factors that moderate the impact of these cultural challenges on psychological adjustment for first- and second-generation migrant-origin college students. Ethnic identity has been presumed to buffer the impact of cultural stressors on psychological adjustment, but studies have demonstrated mixed results. Because emerging adulthood is a relevant time in social identity development, it is important to clarify the role that ethnic identity plays during psychological adjustment when these individuals are faced with culturally based stress. This dissertation integrated acculturation theory and social identity theory to examine the conditions under which positive ethnic-racial affect served as a moderating factor between cultural stressors and depressive symptoms. It was hypothesized that the moderating impact of positive ethnic-racial affect would vary by other-group orientation, nativity status, and gender, in accordance with social identity theory and rejection sensitivity theory. A multicultural sample of 290 emerging adult students (aged 18-25) completed electronic self-report questionnaires on a college campus in the Southeastern United States. Results provided stronger support for social identity theory such that stronger positive ethnic-racial affect demonstrated inverse associations with depressive symptoms across the sample, with a notable buffering impact for women. Trend-level results demonstrated a protective effect against depressive symptoms when stronger positive ethnic-racial affect was paired with greater levels of other-group orientation. In contrast, males with stronger positive ethnic-racial affect demonstrated statistically significant increases in depressive symptoms as perceived ethnic discrimination increased, lending some support for rejection sensitivity theory. Implications for clinical practice and integrative collegiate programming are discussed

Physical activity for African American females : salience of race, gender-role, and exercise identities

Social identity theory explores the process of self-identifications based upon perceived shared commonalities with others in order to positively affiliate with group membership and accounts for inter-group and intra-group behaviors (Deaux, 2001; Hogg & Abrams, 1999; Tajfel, 1982). Social identity is also dependent upon environment and situation dynamics (Turner, 1982). African American females are at risk for high levels of physical inactivity. Researchers have suggested the use of frameworks that move investigations beyond assessing social aggregates such as race and gender to understand why this is true. Racial identity, gender-role identity, and exercise identity (derived from social identity theory) provide a framework to go beyond categorical labels. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore intersections among racial identity, gender-role identity, and exercise identity on the physical activity participation of African American females, extending the current research regarding determinants of physical activity participation for African American females. The first study used quantitative methods to investigate relationships among racial identity, gender-role identity, exercise identity, physical activity participation, and perceived social support within an African American college female sample population. Results indicated females who exercised more often had a stronger sense of exercise identity, displayed masculine gender-role identity and had higher perceived levels of social support. Perceived friend social support predicted exercise identity and frequency of physical activity participation. Study two qualitatively explored the intersection of racial identity, gender-role identity, and exercise identity of African American females who were considered regular exercisers by running group affiliation. The following themes emerged: 1) group membership advantages; 2) exercise as a catalyst for change; 3) perceived obstacles to physical activity. The findings indicated that exercise identity is more salient than racial and gender-role identities. Perceived cultural barriers such as hair, food, and body image had a diminished affect when exercise was accepted as part of identity. Taken together, findings support the conclusion that a focus on developing a strong exercise identity through cultural lenses of other identities such as race and gender is an important factor in efforts to promote physical activity in diverse populations

Critical media literacy and Black female identity construction: A conceptual framework for empowerment, equity, and social justice in education

This paper addresses the issues of knowledge production, which interrogate and disrupt dominant narratives that subjugate Black females related to their identity. We contextualize our discussion through the lens of critical consciousness and critical media literacy by exploring the role of popular media in identity development/imposition for Black females. We outline issues of Black female identity politics by framing them through the description of critical media literacy as a 21st century literacy, with Black Feminist Theory as our theoretical lens. Similar discussions have remained centered in the field of Media Studies and there has been inadequate attention to these issues in the education realm, particularly as they relate to Black females and their self-concept and self-empowerment

Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults

This report was prepared to assist federal, state, and local policy makers and program leaders, as well as employers, nonprofit organizations, and other community partners, in developing and enhancing policies and programs to improve young adults' health, safety, and well-being. The report also suggests priorities for research to inform policy and programs for young adults.Young adulthood - ages approximately 18 to 26 - is a critical period of development with long-lasting implications for a person's economic security, health and well-being. Young adults are key contributors to the nation's workforce and military services and, since many are parents, to the healthy development of the next generation. Although 'millennials' have received attention in the popular media in recent years, young adults are too rarely treated as a distinct population in policy, programs, and research. Instead, they are often grouped with adolescents or, more often, with all adults. Currently, the nation is experiencing economic restructuring, widening inequality, a rapidly rising ratio of older adults, and an increasingly diverse population. The possible transformative effects of these features make focus on young adults especially important. A systematic approach to understanding and responding to the unique circumstances and needs of today's young adults can help to pave the way to a more productive and equitable tomorrow for young adults in particular and our society at large

The role of communication technology in adolescent relationships and identity development

Text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking sites are changing the way people interact with each other. The popularity of these communication technologies among emerging adults in particular has grown exponentially, with little accompanying research to understand their influences on psychosocial development. This study explores the relationship between communication technology usage (text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking) and adolescent adjustment among 268 high school students. It was hypothesized that use of communication technology would be related to psychological adjustment, including identity development, relationship attachment and peer conflict. Participants were recruited from three public high schools in central Florida (69% female, 81.9% White). Time spent using communication technology was significantly correlated with psychological symptom severity (i.e. anxiety and depression), identity distress, peer aggression, and existential anxiety. It was also significantly but negatively correlated with relationship avoidance. Degree of usage of communication technology for interpersonal communication was significantly correlated with peer aggression, relationship anxiety, and existential anxiety. Those with a preoccupied style (high in relationship anxiety, low in relationship avoidance) spent significantly more time using communication technology than those in the dismissive (high in avoidance, low in anxiety), fearful (high in both), and secure (low in both) styles. Further analyses and their implications for adolescent development will be discussed