Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this youth development project has beenthe youth professionals working to improve the State of Florida schools and communities. Further, national youth development professionals may benefit from the findings of this project as Florida's demographics may prove to be a solid pilot test for other state's schools and communities. The project has strived to further Florida's development of human resources and life sciences. It has fit with the mission to make knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of life. It has provided significant information that may be used by various types of practitioners, including extension agents, school leaders, teachers, counselors, and especially, after-school program staff, potentially in Florida and throughout the nation. The project has focused on two distinct youth populations with extremely high-risk characterisstics and examined related data on positive youth developmental outcomes in high-risk community areas. The scope of the project was to explore vulnerableyouth specific perceived risks in relation to perceived future that would potentially lead to minimizing some risks for youth and increasing human capital in Florida. The project strived to consider how to offset potential risks of Florida's youth by identifying current and needed supports toward promoting a positive developmental trajectory.Florida's young citizens will have a more likely chance of remaining in the State and have increased opportunities of contributing to the future of local community and statewide economy, as well as have a better chance of being integrated into community development, policy planning and evaluation. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided support for the researcher to explore variables not yet examined in past projects. During this research timeline, mentoring of graduate students at both the doctoral and masters' level was an integral part of this project. As a result, two graduate students and one undergraduate student, who went on to graduate school, benefited from being part of this project. One MS thesis and one undergraduate Honors thesis were completed and two journal articles were published from their mentored studies. Further, the thesis is in the UF Library database. The doctoral student that collaborated on the project completed her Ph.D. and is now a faculty member of a university in the South. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The early findings were published in an innaugural issue of a national journal on at-risk youth. It was the featured research article. The second article that expanded on the timeline of the study and confirmed the results, is in review. The first article was featured by the University of Florida as a "Research Impact" publication, a designated honor by the UF IFAS Office of the Research Dean. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This studyexamined211 youth living in these same two communities over a five-year period to determine whether there were changes over a longer period of time and to confirm that youth positive perceptions of their local community would continue to serve as a protective factor for exposure to perceptions of risk behaviors experienced in their community. Would the potentially powerful protective factor of youth perceptions of their local community continue to serve as a means of offsetting exposure to risk behavior of others where they live and grow up?This study examined these variables with a lens on risk taking behaviors as the dependent variable; one that changes in response to the independent variable, youth perceptions of community environment. For this study, we explored the question: Do youth perceptions of their local environment relate to or predict their exposure to risk?Over the five-year study, a total of 315 surveys were completed by 214 afterschool program participants. A total of 312 surveys were used in data analysis and were completed by 211 individual participants during the five-year data collection. Participants who returned multiple years completed the 101 additional surveys.Data were analyzed to examine community environment as a means of protecting youth involved in an after-school program from social risk behaviors including: exposure to alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illegal drug use; pressure to use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illegal drugs; exposure to gangs and violence; pressure to join gangs; and individual use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, illegal drug use, carrying of weapons, and gang participation. Descriptive statistics were conducted to examine demographic data (sex, race/ethnicity, age, grade in school). Pearson bivariate correlations and linear regressions were conducted to examine the mean differences and relationships between community environment and social behavioral variables.Study participants ranged in age from 10 to 19 years with a mean age of 13.21. Of the 312 total surveys, the following were completed by: females 51% (154), males 49% (148) and non-gender respondents 10; and by race/ethnicity, participants were: African American: 74.4%; Hispanic: 13.5%; White: 4.5%; and Other: 3.9%. All participants were in middle (79.1%) or high school (20.9%). Participants from County 1 made up a majority of the sample population 82.1% (256) with County 2 having 56 participants (17.9%) over five years.The results of this current study indicate that a youth's perception of their community environment can directly impact their pressures to engage in social risk-taking behaviors as well as the negative social behaviors they are exposed to. These results were based on an examination of the relationship between community environment and risk-taking behaviors of youth living in areas that were extremely disadvantaged. Findings indicated that community environment stood on its' own as an independent variable and was not changed by the risktaking behaviors. Data were analyzed in both directions to explore whether it would change if reversed and it was found that all predictive relationships were stronger when the risk taking-behavior was the dependent variable and community environment was the independent variable. Therefore, risk taking behaviors changed as positive perceptions of community environment overall increased, perceptions and self-reported risk-taking behaviors decreased. The community having a positive impact on youth caused a change in risk-taking behaviors which supports the hypothesis under examination: Do youth perceptions of their local environment relate to or predict their exposure to risk? Ho: As youth positive perceptions of their local environment increased, their negative perceptions of exposure to risk decreased.Research has indicated previously that there is a direct correlation between the behavior of a youth's friends and their personal behaviors (Maxwell, 2002). Given the results of the current study, it can be expected that the vulnerable youth within the population of interest will begin to experiment with risk-taking behaviors, including marijuana, alcohol, and other illegal drugs, if they are not already. The long-term consequences of underage drinking, tobacco use, marijuana, and other illegal drug use, include lower rates of graduation, higher incarceration rates, and high rates of teenage pregnancy (McCaffrey, Pacula, Han, & Ellickson, 2009; Berry. Shillington, Peak & Hohman, 2000; Slade, Stuart, Salkever, Karakus, Green, & Ialongo, 2008). As the results of this study indicate, the perception of vulnerable youth's community environment is directly related and even predictive of risk-taking behaviors. Programs and initiative are needed within vulnerable communities to improve the environment of the neighborhoods. The resultsindicate that as vulnerable youth's perception of their community environment becomes increasingly negative, their access to marijuana, pressure to participate in risk-taking behaviors, and peer's use of risktaking behaviors increase. The results also indicate that there is a statistically significant predictive relationship between community environment and a number of risk-taking behaviors and exposure. The relationship between these behaviors and community environment within an already vulnerable population of adolescents is an area of concern among youth development employees and researchers.While not causal, these findings support past evidence that when youth perceive their community in a positive way, it is a protective factor for the exposure to risk behaviors that they might experience. Consistent negative relationships existed between the community environment and exposure to risk variables. This leads us to the conclusion that there is an interrelatedness present in their daily lives that can serve as a means of protecting them from exposure to risk behaviors of others, even their friends. These findings present important implications for youth workers, afterschool program managers and staff, and researchers in the field of youth development. In order for these variables to operationalize in such a way as to serve as a protective factor that will help youth stay on a positive trajectory, there must be positive perceptions of community developed and maintained by youth. These perceptions can and must be cultivated through programming efforts, as these perceptions may or may not be developed in the home. Programming can support community involvement through careful planning of projects that serve to engage youth in improving the area in which they live. Further, connections can and must be made between youth and not only the environment, but those serving in leadership roles within the environment.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Unroe, T.*, Barnett, R.V., & Payne-Purvis, C.M. (2017). An examination of self-esteem and empowerment of African American female youth in an after school program. Journal of Youth Development, 11, (3), 26-41.
McDaniel, B.J., Barnett, R.V. & Forthun, L.F. (2017). Effect of exposure on emerging adults' attitudes and definitions of disabilities. (In review: Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities.)
Barnett, R.V. & Payne Purvis, C.M. (2017). Community environment and youth risk-taking behavior in disadvantaged neighborhoods. (In review: National Youth-At-Risk Journal.)
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience is those youth development professionalswho serve or work with at-risk youth in any capacity, specifically those matching the population description of this study. The youth research in this study are low SES youth who qualified for Free and Reduced lunch, ages 12-18 and are primarily racial and ethnic minorities of AA descent and Hispanic descent, who are socially, economically, and educationally disadvantaged. Many youth development professionals strive to work with youth matching this risk level and demographic profile, therefore, this research will likely be generalizable to many other youth populations served by youth development professionals in the field. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project allowed for two students to be trained on the research project including graduate student T. Unroe, MS and undergraduate honors student P.Combee in which they were brought onto the research team, mentored, and given an opportunity to lead or assist on one journal article publication each. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated in national journals of interest to youth development researchers and professionals. They have been or will be presented at national conferences that will be attended by this target audience. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The next reporting period will be the last of the five year period and as stated previously, there is still more to dig into in regard to how youth percieve their community risks related to their peers risk behavior, their own, and their sense of personal future. This is the difficult part but it is coming to fruition and each publication thus far has teased out of the data the relations between each variable to the other, leading from one unraveling of the puzzle to the next. It is ongoing and will continue perhaps past the five year period.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This year the focus was on completing data analysis and writing publications on the interrelatedness of the variables in the study. Data was analyzed for both communities for the youth across the time period and explored for differences and relationships. Exploring the youth perceptions of their community in regard to their safety, environment and risk factors was examined in relation to their perceptions of what they have seen in their vulnerable communities in regard to risk behaviors in general, by others, and by their peers. Last, analysis of the interraltedness to their own perceived risk behaviors and their feelings of future orientation is still ongoing.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Unroe, T., Barnett, R.V. & Payne-Purvis, C. (2016). An examination of self-esteem and empowerment of African American female youth in an after-school program. Journal of Youth Development.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Barnett, R.V., Combee, P.E. & Payne-Purvis, C.P. (2016). Where'd You Hear That?: Examining the importance of individuals and institutions in providing knowledge to at-risk adolescents about their local community. Journal of Youth Development, 12, 2, 12 pp.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Barnett, R.V. & Payne Purvis, C.M. (2016). Community environment and youth risk-taking behavior in disadvantaged neighborhoods. National Youth-At-Risk Journal (In review.).
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience was a population of low SES youth who qualified for Free and Reduced lunch, ages 12-18 and are primarily racial and ethnic minorities of AA descent and Hispanic descent, who are socially, economically, and educationally disadvantaged. Two distinct populations have been identified: African American youth in Sanford, FL, an extremely low SES area with high drug use rates and Hispanic youth in Pierson, FL, an extremely migrant area with transient populations working in the agricultural industry. These two distinct populations may offer a profile of at-risk youth trying to survive in a world that is unsupportive by nature. An examination of survival behaviors within the social context will attempt to unfold other related issues compounding their struggle. Other populations determined to be at-risk will be identified and possibly included in the study if access to the population(s), permission to administer the surveys, and logistics for collecting data are all approved. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Year 3.Collect data in one or more rural communities.Conduct an analysis of SBQ data on both communities including within and between analysis to establish mean scores of perceived risks in each community and in both communities, examining for similarities and differences, establishing ranges of least to most frequently reported risks and severity levels.Analyze data for each community by four specific social behavioral risk categories (Substance Use, Violence, Weapons, and Gangs). Analyze data for each community by Sense of Personal Future (overall) and specifically related to Educational Goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Year 1-2.Collect data in one or more communities.Conduct an analysis of SBQ data in one or more communities to establish mean scores of youth perceived social behavioral risks in each community.Analyze data for each community by four specific risk categories (Substance Use, Violence, Weapons and Gangs).
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Barnett, R.V., Payne-Purvis, C. M. & Culen, G. (2015). Perceptions of community and risk behavior exposure for youth in at-risk environments. National At-Risk Youth Journal, Inaugural Issue, Feature Research Article, Fall 2015. 1, (1), 46-59.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Barnett, R.V. & Fox, M. (2016). The relationship between competition and self-esteem in at-risk youth enrolled in an after-school program near a prison. (In review: National At-risk Youth Journal, for publication Fall 2016.)
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Unroe, T.*, Barnett, R.V., Culen, G.R., Payne-Purvis, C.M. & Speegle, K.C. (2016). An examination of self-esteem and empowerment of African American female youth in an after-school program. (Written, edits/cuts needed prior to submittal to Journal of Youth Development.)
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Unroe, Taylor (2015). An examination of self-esteem and empowerment of African American female youth in an after-school program. (Written, edits/cuts needed prior to submittal to Journal of Youth Development.)
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience was a population of low SES youth who qualified for Free and REduced Lunch, ages 12-18, and are primarily racial and ethnic minories of African American descent, who are socially, economically, and eduationally disadvantaged. Two distinct populations have been identified: African American youth in Sanford, FL, an extremely low SES area with high drug use rates and Hispanic youth in Pierson, FL, an extremely migrant area with transient populations working in the agricultural industry. These two distinct populations may offer a profile of at-risk youth trying to survive in a world that is unsupportive by nature. An examination of survival behaviors within the social context will attempt to unfold other related issues compounding their struggle. Other populations determined to be at-risk will be identified and possibly included in the study if access to the population(s), permission to administer the surveys, and logistics for collecting data are all approved. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Year 3.Collect data in one or more rural communities.Conduct an analysis of SBQ data on both communities including within and between analysis to establish mean scores of perceived risks in each community and in both communities, examining for similarities and differences, establishing ranges of least to most frequently reported risks and severity levels.Analyze data for each community by four specific social behavioral risk categories (Substance Use, Violence, Weapons, and Gangs). Analyze data for each community by Sense of Personal Future (overall) and specifically related to Educational Goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Year 1-2.Collect data in one or more communities.Conduct an analysis of SBQ data in one or more communities to establish mean scores of youth perceived social behavioral risks in each community.Analyze data for each community by four specific risk categories (Substance Use, Violence, Weapons and Gangs).
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Barnett, R.V., Neely, J., Payne-Purvis, C.M. & Culen, G.R. (2014). At-risk youth in after-school programs: How does their use of media for learning about community issues relate to their perceptions of community connectedness, community involvement, and community support? Journal of Youth Development - Special Edition: Media and Youth Development: An Overview of Issues, Theory, and Research, 9, (1), pp. 159-176.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Barnett, R.V., Hirsch, J., Culen, G.R. & Jordan, J. (2014). Adolescent perceptions of animation violence as an indication of aggressive attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Youth Development- Special Edition--Media and Youth Development: An Overview of Issues, Theory, and Research, 9, (1), pp. 115-129.
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: This is Y1 of this project, therefore, this year was dedicated to the start-up of reviewing literature, identifying communities for onsite research, and designing a survey to collect data. The communities were determined to be in Seminole (C1) and Volusia (C2) counties, in Florida. The population was a low SES area in each county with youth attending a community-based after-school program for free in their local community center adjacent to school. Therefore, the target audience was a population of low SES youth who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, ages 12-18, are primarily racial and ethnic minorities of African American and Hispanic descent, who are socially, economically, and educationally disadvantaged. These youth were targeted as important participants and respondents for data collection via survey instrumentation (YES Survey) regarding their perceptions of their low SES ecologies, social behavioral risks in their local ecology, and their perceptions of their general sense of personal future. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project has provided some opportunities for university students who wanted to learn about research. In particular, the survey data collection allowed for graduate students to have an opportunity to go out into the field and learn the most effective and efficient methods. It also provided opportunities for undergraduate students to enter data (voluntarily) in order to get research experience prior to applying for graduate admissions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results are still forthcoming, however, with data entered from one survey, it was correlated with data from a collaborative project to complete one journal article for dissemination of results on the national level. It has been sent to the local community sites where the data was collected. It is currently in review for publication and once the data is entered from the YES Survey, it will also be analyzed and correlated with other data from this population to examine relationships of the variables. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In the next reporting period, another round of data will be collected and entered. Then, the YES data will be analyzed providing a summary of mean scores for each item by each community population, total population, and explore for differences by community, age, sex and grade. Then, further analysis may be conducted examining relationships between the SBQ data and the YES data. As the project moves forward, it will include a deeper analysis including cross-tabs, t-tests, ANOVA, correlations, and possibly regressions. The data will also be examined by risk behavior type as well as by perception of neighborhood risk levels and variables related to perceived sense of personal future. This is important to determine whether the youth are optimistic, an aspect of resiliency, or if they do not have hope, an aspect of a more depressed sense of purpose and well-being.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. In order to "identify and examine local youth perceptions of exposure to social behavioral risks factors in their local community", some research and design had to be done up front. This first year was a start up and involved working on a literature review as well as a survey design to collect data. The You, Your Future, and Your Community survey was pilot tested and revised. Modifications were made based on the results. The final survey, Youth Ecology Survey (YES), was used in the first round of data collection. It has been copyrighted (2013) by the author, R.V. Barnett. The Timeline indicates that in Y1 researchers would "collect youth SBQ (Social Behavioral Questionnairre) data in one or more communities. Two communities were identified in two FL counties, Seminole (C1) and Volusia (C2). The SBQ data was collected as well as the newly designed YES survey data that enhanced the items represented on the SBQ by adding not only how they felt about their neighborhood, i.e. "I believe that I am safe on the streets near my home"... but also how they felt about their own sense of their personal future, i.e. "I want to get an education so that I can help my community when I am grown." The first round of data has been collected and is in the process of being entered. The SBQ and the YES survey data will provide a profile of youth perceptions of neighborhood risks, behaviors by other youth as well as their own behavior, and their sense of personal future. The SBQ data on exposure to risk behaviors was used in an analysis with community involvement data on a collaborative project funded by CYFAR and is currently in review.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Barnett, R.V., Culen, G. & Payne, C.M. (2014). Correlates of vulnerable youth perceptions of community involvement and exposure to risk behaviors. (In review: Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology.)
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