This interpretative study aims to offer metaphors that describe family meanings from the adolescent's perspective by encouraging them to give a metaphor with their own explanation on a self-administering essay form. This study has three objectives: to explore the family meanings as a metaphor from the Hong Kong adolescent's perspective; to reveal…

This paper asks if Estonian and Chinese tweens' access to pocket money influences their brand valuation, as well as value orientations in the context of perceived peer popularity and personal well-being. Surveys conducted in autumns 2006 (China n = 188) and 2007 (Estonia n = 111) show an inherent cultural resistance among tweens in both countries…

Gangs have a long history in Cape Town and children tend to begin involvement around age 12. Children's views on causes of children's involvement in gangs and appropriate interventions, were sought for inclusion in policy recommendations. Thirty focus group discussions were held with in- and out-of-school youth in different communities.…

In this paper, we explore young peoples' normative representations of work. In particular, we are interested in the ways young people view work roles which could be considered "atypical" such as young caring or language brokering. Interviewed were 46 young people (15-18 years) some who did, and some who did not engage in the…

Seventy 15-year-old students in rural and urban Scottish schools, who had previously answered questionnaires about the extent of their part-time employment, were interviewed. Work appears to be the norm in their communities, 79 per cent having worked and most of the others anticipating working before leaving school. Although the interviewees'…

Asserts that young people are increasingly disaffected with political parties and voting, more concerned with single issues of environmentalism or unemployment. Identifies trends: (1) increasing sense of discontent with institutions; (2) frustrations in reaching ambitions; and (3) disconnection from core institutions. Proposes remedies including…

Argues that studies focus on parenting of young children and ignore parenting of adolescents. Considers the environment teens grow up in today. Reviews research on communication, supervision and monitoring of adolescents, power in the family, and role of parents. Concludes with suggestions for new research and a call for more support and research…

Used the "Assessment and Action Record" from the "Looking After Children" materials to identify needs and desired outcomes for youth leaving out-of-home care in 1995 in an English local authority. Found that desired outcomes included providing information and knowledge, providing the means to acquire financial-related skills…

Examined 12- to 14-year-olds' understanding of mental health and illness, responses to negative feelings, and perceived differences between themselves and adults. Found that the term "mental health" was little understood. Relationships with family and friends were considered a positive influence. Youth, especially boys, reported…

Used projective techniques employing photographs of houses representing families' different income levels to explore low- and middle-income 5- to 14-year-olds' character associations regarding economic class and corresponding friendship choices. Found that even at early ages, both realistic assessments and popular prejudices about wealth and…

Presented vignettes describing groupings of people to 232 New Zealand adolescents to examine their perceptions of families. Found that 80 percent or more endorsed married and cohabiting families, lone-parent households, and extended family members as families. Found few differences according to adolescents' own family structure. Chinese…

Previous studies suggest that around 30 per cent of children may witness domestic abuse, by which we mean physical or mental violence perpetrated by men on women. This paper reports the views of older children--a group from which there is little direct evidence available. Ninety-eight percent of pupils in a Scottish Secondary School consented to…

As the participation of children and young people in policy decision-making has spread in the UK, participation work is facing hard questions on its translation from principle to effective practice. The participation literature has been largely self-referential in its consideration of policy influence. This paper considers the potential usefulness…

Interviewed 24 children who had been in contact with child welfare, school counseling, or the child psychiatric clinic in a Norwegian suburb. Found that the majority had structured lives within a variety of family constellations. Many had little information about their contact with welfare services and difficulty evaluating the effects of…