Why place matters in residential care: the mediating role of place attachment in the relation between adolescents’ rights and psychological well-being

Little evidence exists on the relationship between rights’ perceptions and well-being outcomes during the adolescence, and particularly in care, as well as on the mediating role of place attachment. Young people in residential care are psychologically and socially vulnerable, showing greater difficulties than their peers do in the family. Youth’s rights fulfilment in residential care may positively affect their psychological functioning together with positive attachments to this place. A sample of 365 adolescents in residential care settings (M = 14.71, SD = 1.81) completed a set of self-reported measures, specifically, the Rights perceptions scale, the Place attachment scale and Scales of psychological well-being. Results revealed significant mediating effects of place attachment (Global scale and subscales of Friends Bonding and Place Dependence) on the relationship between Participation and Protection rights in residential care and Psychological well-being (Positive Relations with others, Personal Growth and Self-Acceptance). The positive role of rights fulfilment in residential care, specifically participation opportunities, as well as the role of youth’s attachment to the care setting are discussed based on previous evidence and theoretical assumptions. A set of practical implications is described.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Comments on Draft General Comment No. 24, replacing General Comment 10 (2007) on Children’s rights in juvenile justice

These comments aim to support the UN Committee on the Rights of Child (the Committee) with the revision of its General Comment No. 10 (2007) on children’s rights in juvenile justice. We concur with the Committee that this General Comment could benefit from an update in light of the developments since its adoption in 2007, in particular the promulgation of international and regional standards (ánd case law), the growing body of scientific knowledge on child and adolescent development (ánd behaviour, effective participation and evidence-based interventions), persistent challenges regarding children in the context of juvenile justice, among others with regard to the use of deprivation of liberty, and frontiers, including children involved in informal or customary justice systems, issues related to children associated with extreme violence or violent extremism and the position of adolescents in transition from childhood into adulthood (i.e. upper age limit; see further below). At the same time, we would recommend the Committee to uphold the comprehensiveness, key messages and strong, specific ánd practical guidance of General Comment No. 10, which has served as a catalyst for law reform across the globe

Assessing children's competence to consent in research by a standardized tool: a validity study

Contains fulltext : 109814.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Currently over 50% of drugs prescribed to children have not been evaluated properly for use in their age group. One key reason why children have been excluded from clinical trials is that they are not considered able to exercise meaningful autonomy over the decision to participate. Dutch law states that competence to consent can be presumed present at the age of 12 and above; however, in pediatric practice children's competence is not that clearly presented and the transition from assent to active consent is gradual. A gold standard for competence assessment in children does not exist. In this article we describe a study protocol on the development of a standardized tool for assessing competence to consent in research in children and adolescents.Methods/designIn this study we modified the MacCAT-CR, the best evaluated competence assessment tool for adults, for use in children and adolescents. We will administer the tool prospectively to a cohort of pediatric patients from 6 to18 years during the selection stages of ongoing clinical trials. The outcomes of the MacCAT-CR interviews will be compared to a reference standard, established by the judgments of clinical investigators, and an expert panel consisting of child psychiatrists, child psychologists and medical ethicists. The reliability, criterion-related validity and reproducibility of the tool will be determined. As MacCAT-CR is a multi-item scale consisting of 13 items, power was justified at 130--190 subjects, providing a minimum of 10--15 observations per item. MacCAT-CR outcomes will be correlated with age, life experience, IQ, ethnicity, socio-economic status and competence judgment of the parent(s). It is anticipated that 160 participants will be recruited over 2 years to complete enrollment. DISCUSSION: A validity study on an assessment tool of competence to consent is strongly needed in research practice, particularly in the child and adolescent population. In this study we will establish a reference standard of children's competence to consent, combined with validation of an assessment instrument. Results can facilitate responsible involvement of children in clinical trials by further development of guidelines, health-care policies and legal policies