A selection from Stockholm University publication database

• Associations Between Social Connectedness and Academic Achievement Among Roma Youth in Eastern Europe

  2021. Amina Abubakar (et al.). Roma Minority Youth Across Cultural Contexts, 133-155

  Chapter

  In this chapter, the authors report on a study that examined relations between social connectedness, school engagement, and achievement in minority (Roma) and majority youth in Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, and Romania. Based on a social connectedness model, they investigated the interplay of two connectedness domains (i.e., school and family) and their relations to school engagement and achievement. Participants were 1,063 adolescents who completed the Social Connectedness Scale on school engagement and average academic achievement. The authors found that social connectedness, especially school connectedness, was associated with school engagement while parental education was associated with school achievement. Implications are discussed in terms of how these findings are relevant to greater insight into the promotion of connectedness and the academic success of minority and majority youth across the countries under investigation.

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• Handbook of Positive Youth Development

  2021. .

  Book (ed)

  This handbook examines positive youth development (PYD) in youth and emerging adults from an international perspective. It focuses on large and underrepresented cultural groups across six continents within a strengths-based conception of adolescence that considers all youth as having assets. The volume explores the ways in which developmental assets, when effectively harnessed, empower youth to transition into a productive and resourceful adulthood. The book focuses on PYD across vast geographical regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Latin America as well as on strengths and resources for optimal well-being. The handbook addresses the positive development of young people across various cultural contexts to advance research, policy, and practice and inform interventions that foster continued thriving and reduce the chances of compromised youth development. It presents theoretical perspectives and supporting empirical findings to promote a more comprehensive understanding of PYD from an integrated, multidisciplinary, and multinational perspective.

  The Handbook of Positive Youth Development in a Global Context is an essential resource for researchers, professors, and graduate students as well as clinicians, therapists, and other professionals in developmental, clinical child, and school psychology, public health and prevention science, family studies, cross-cultural psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, social work, educational policy and politics, anthropology, sociology, social psychology and all interrelated disciplines.

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• Handbook of Positive Youth Development

  2021. Radosveta Dimitrova, Nora Wiium. Handbook of Positive Youth Development, 3-16

  Chapter

  This chapter introduces the Handbook of Positive Youth Development (PYD) aiming to advance PYD scholarship among youth and emerging adults from a global international perspective. Noteworthy highlights regard (1) advancement of the theoretical and empirical knowledge base on PYD in global contexts; (2) refinement of methodological issues and measurement in under researched contexts; (3) integration of PYD scholarship with relevant research, policy, and practice. A prominent theme is the advent of a new generation of PYD scholarship in underrepresented global contexts and vast geographic regions (e.g., Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, New Zealand, North and Latin America). The handbook is composed by Part I PYD in Global Contexts and Part II PYD Applications and Interventions with a total of 37 chapters across 38 countries. Several chapters have an original empirical basis and involve in total, responses and voices from 22,083 youth and emerging adults in diverse parts of the world. With unique contributions, large samples and global approaches to research, policy and practice, this volume presents the most comprehensive and inclusive collection of empirical evidence on PYD among youth and emerging adults yet assembled. The outstanding cast of contributors clearly documents stellar accomplishments in the current PYD field, while providing creative and promising avenues about where future outlook and initiatives would be most fruitfully and effectively implemented.

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• How prosocial behavior turns bad into good

  2021. Arzu Aydinli-Karakulak (et al.). Current Psychology 40 (8), 3986-3996

  Article

  Building on the Altruism Born of Suffering (ABS) Hypothesis, the present research tests the mediator role of prosocial behavior on the link between perceived personal discrimination and several psychological well-being outcomes in a sample of Turkish-Bulgarian minority youth. We argue that perceived personal discrimination is linked to prosocial behavior, which in turn alleviates discriminations' detrimental effects on life satisfaction, self-esteem, negative affect and loneliness. Results revealed that prosocial behavior partially mediated the link between perceived personal discrimination and life satisfaction, perceived personal discrimination and self-esteem, and perceived personal discrimination and loneliness, while no mediating effect was found for negative affect. Our research contributes to the existing literature on minority youth dealing with discrimination, and proposes prosocial behavior to be a mechanism of resilient functioning against the maladaptive effects of perceived personal discrimination.

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• Positive Youth Development in Bulgaria, Italy, Norway and Romania

  2021. Radosveta Dimitrova (et al.). Handbook of Positive Youth Development, 267-281

  Chapter

  This chapter applies the 5Cs model of PYD comprising competence, confidence, character, connection and caring among 1403 youth (M = 18.91 years) in Bulgaria (n = 196), Italy (n = 354), Norway (n = 564) and Romania (n = 289). These countries offer a novel and unique context to apply PYD as related comparative work with youth samples is rare across Eastern (Bulgaria and Romania), Southern (Italy) and Northern Europe (Norway). Further, Bulgaria and Romania are emerging nations following the collapse of the communism in late 1980s in contrast to Italy being a traditionally patriarchal country and social equity driven Norway. The chapter presents an empirical example that evaluates the factorial structure and measurement invariance (i.e., the degree to which the scale measurements conducted across different populations exhibit similar psychometric properties) of the 5Cs model. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the 5Cs as well as a second-order 5Cs of PYD factors, suggesting that the 5Cs model is a reliable and valid measurement tool in the four European countries investigated. The chapter concludes with an exploration of relevant implications for research, policy, and practice.

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• Promoting Mindfulness Through the 7Cs of Positive Youth Development in Malaysia

  2021. Nor Ba'yah Abdul Kadir, Rusyda Helma Mohd, Radosveta Dimitrova. Handbook of Positive Youth Development, 49-62

  Chapter

  Mindfulness is one of the most widely regarded constructs of human development and positive psychological experiences representing a significant area of growth within the larger field of positive psychology. Mindfulness involves the awareness of the present moment sustained by a mindset of openness to novelty and ability to draw novel distinctions reflected in novelty seeking, novelty producing and high overall engagement. Mindfulness promotes psychological well-being, thriving and success with relevant relations to Positive Youth Development (PYD). This chapter applies the 7Cs of PYD (e.g., competence, confidence, character, caring, connection, contribution and creativity) as a promising model to enhance mindfulness among emerging adults (N = 400) in Malaysia. In so doing, the chapter provides evidence for the reliability and validity of the 7Cs model that in turn enhances mindfulness in young people from Malaysia. Finally, the chapter offers relevant conceptual and methodological advancements to the PYD field by outlining promising research, policy and practice implications.

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• Reframing the Narrative

  2021. Deborah J. Johnson (et al.). Roma Minority Youth Across Cultural Contexts, 109-132

  Chapter

  The authors apply a positive youth development (PYD) approach to examine self-descriptors of Roma adolescents in domains of positive self-appraisal, self-knowledge and goals, and positive interpersonal relationships. They first quantitatively explore the relationships among self-esteem, ethnic identity, and self-description domains, then use qualitative content analysis to explore youths’ sense of self across domains including future orientations, relationships, and personal characteristics. Intragroup comparisons of self-esteem revealed more positive, less critical self-references among youth with high self-esteem. Additionally, youth with higher ethnic identity scores invoked more descriptors that involved culture or group differences. Despite experiences of isolation and negative self-evaluation, self-descriptors also depicted a deep sense of family closeness and meaningful friendships with peers. The conclusions of this study underscore the existence of positive self-systems among Roma youth despite complex life challenges.

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• Roma Minority Youth Across Cultural Contexts

  2021. .

  Book (ed)

  This book explores Positive Youth Development (PYD) in Roma ethnic minority youth. Standing apart from current volumes, this book focuses on the Roma ethnic minority — one of the most marginalized and oppressed minority groups in Europe — and on strengths and resources for optimal well-being in the community. The international and multidisciplinary contributors to this book address the complexities of Roma life in a variety of cultural settings, exploring how key developmental processes and person-context interactions can contribute to optimal and successful adaptation. The conclusions clarify how the PYD of ethnic minority children and youth may be fostered based on the empirical findings reported in the volume. The book draws on core theoretical models of PYD and theories of normative development from the perspective of developmental science to highlight the applicability of these frameworks to Roma groups. With a special focus on cultural, contextual, and socio-economic characteristics of Roma, this project also aims to provide a better understanding of what does and what does not contribute to the success of youth in oppressed minority groups.

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• Roma Youth Development in Context

  2021. David L. Sam, Laura Ferrer-Wreder, Radosveta Dimitrova. Roma Minority Youth Across Cultural Contexts, 207-219

  Chapter

  One goal of this volume was to review the effectiveness of the positive youth development (PYD) perspective in improving the developmental outcomes of Roma youths. In addition, the volume was interested in formulating recommendations on how to improve the welfare of other marginalized and improvised youth against a backdrop of accruing knowledge from this strength-based approach. The primary focus of this concluding chapter is to build on lessons gained from applying PYD principles with Roma youth. While acknowledging the developmental gains Roma youth have achieved following the application of PYD principles, the chapter points to the fact that these gains are limited because of the prolonged and institutionalized prejudice and discrimination Roma have suffered within the societies in which they live. In light of the limitations imposed on Roma youth, the chapter suggests the need to draw on principles from acculturation and multiculturalism to help remove societal hindrances that can prevent Roma from being integrated into the fabric of the societies that they reside in.

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• Social Support Among Slovene Minority and Italian Majority Youth in Italy

  2021. Marianna Kosic, Nora Wiium, Radosveta Dimitrova. Handbook of Positive Youth Development, 175-186

  Chapter

  This chapter applies the Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework to explore the influence of social support (family, community and school) on academic achievement and internal assets of PYD (i.e., positive identity and social competence) in a sample of Slovene minority (n = 172, 40% females) and Italian majority youth (n = 354, 43% females) in Northern Italy. A path model suggested that in both groups, social support was positively related to positive identity, social competence and academic achievement such that creating supportive relationships within schools, families and communities can foster PYD. The chapter provides valuable evidence prompting educators, parents, practitioners and policymakers to use PYD approaches to empower youth and optimize their overall well-being.

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• The 5Cs of Positive Youth Development in New Zealand

  2021. Danielle Fernandes (et al.). Handbook of Positive Youth Development, 237-249

  Chapter

  This chapter applies the 5Cs of PYD model to a sample of 302 emerging adults in New Zealand.

  Emerging adulthood represents a critical developmental context spanning the ages of 18–29 years to make positive changes and increase the likelihood of young people succeeding in their lives. To this end, the 5Cs model provides an ideal strength-based framework to assess optimal functioning of young people. The model postulates that the 5Cs (e.g., confidence, competence, character, connection, caring) mediate the relation between emerging adults’ strengths (e.g., hopeful expectations for the future) and optimal well-being (e.g., life satisfaction). The results of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) showed that hopeful expectations for the future were linked to life satisfaction via the mediating role of the 5Cs. The chapter confirms the cross-cultural extension of the 5Cs of PYD model and outlines relevant research, policy and practice directions for young people in New Zealand.

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• The 7Cs and Developmental Assets Models of Positive Youth Development in India, Indonesia and Pakistan

  2021. Radosveta Dimitrova (et al.). Handbook of Positive Youth Development, 17-33

  Chapter

  The present chapter advances PYD scholarship by introducing a newly developed 7Cs model of PYD among youth and emerging adults in three Asian LAMICs (Low-And Middle-income Countries) such as India (n = 218), Indonesia (n = 234), and Pakistan (n = 400). The 7Cs model expands on the 6C indicators of PYD (competence, confidence, character, caring, connection and contribution) to include creativity conceived as a novel and adaptive, problem-solving ability meaningful within social and cultural contexts. The chapter provides solid evidence for (a) the reliability and effectiveness of the 7Cs model in terms of measurement invariance (psychometrically reliable measurement across different populations), utility (appropriate use of measures), universality (applicability to various populations) and (b) structural relations between the 7Cs and the developmental assets models that jointly promote thriving of young people. In conclusion, the 7Cs model has the potential to move forward a PYD priority in research, policy and practice agenda. With this priority in mind, the chapter offers unique conceptual and methodological contributions to the PYD field with relevant applications in international, cross-cultural, developmental, community psychology, and applied developmental science.

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• The 7Cs of Positive Youth Development in Colombia and Peru

  2021. Denisse Lisette Manrique-Millones (et al.). Handbook of Positive Youth Development, 35-48

  Chapter

  The present chapter promotes PYD scholarship in Latin America by testing the 7Cs model of competence, confidence, character, caring, connection, contribution and creativity in Colombia and Peru. Young people in these countries represent a particularly vulnerable group due to significant rates of risky behaviors such as alcohol and drug use, violence and suicide. This chapter applies the 7Cs of PYD as a potentially powerful model to reduce these risky behaviors among this vulnerable population. A total of 755 youth and emerging adults from Colombia (n = 248) and Peru (n = 507) provided data on the 7Cs and their experience of alcohol and drug use, violence, and suicide attempts. The results of the structural equation modeling provided solid evidence for the reliability and validity of the 7Cs model as psychometrically reliable measurement across these populations and meaningful relations between the 7Cs and risky behaviors. The 7Cs represent a promising model promoting thriving of young people in Colombia and Peru by reducing their experience of alcohol and drug use, violence, and suicide attempts. The chapter offers unique conceptual and methodological contributions to the PYD field with relevant applications for research, policy and practice in Latin America and globally.

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• The Roma Context

  2021. Carmen Buzea, Radosveta Dimitrova. Roma Minority Youth Across Cultural Contexts, 3-15

  Chapter

  This chapter presents an overview of the current situation of Roma ethnic minority groups. The authors provide a brief historical outline as well as a summary of major sociodemographic, cultural, and contextual characteristics of Roma. They compare these characteristics across different countries hosting Roma populations and discuss their potential importance for children and youth within broader social and cultural contexts. Drawing on currently available empirical work with these populations, the authors address the question of whether traditional developmental frameworks can apply to oppressed minority settings. They also examine how unique cultural-specific and universal features of Roma can inform the understanding of optimal adaptation in adolescence. The authors conclude by emphasizing the relevance of recognizing that oppressed minority groups such as Roma have potentials and strengths on which we need to build, rather than assume that their communities are only characterized by adversity and deficits.

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• The Satisfaction with Life Scale in Adolescent Samples

  2021. Veljko Jovanović (et al.). Applied Research in Quality of Life

  Article

  Measurement of adolescent life satisfaction across cultures has not received much attention in previous empirical research. The present study evaluated measurement invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) among adolescents in 24 countries and regions (N = 22,710; age range = 13–19 years; 53% female). A single-factor model with residual covariance between a pair of items tapping past life satisfaction fitted well in 19 countries and regions and showed a partial metric invariance. In a subset of nine countries and regions, partial scalar invariance was supported. Partial metric invariance across all 24 countries and regions was achieved when custom model modifications in five countries and regions were included. Three SWLS items showed evidence of noninvariance across cultures. The measurement model was found to operate similarly across gender and age. Our findings suggest that caution is needed when using the SWLS for measuring life satisfaction among adolescents from different cultures.

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