Youth development in context: An interdisciplinary
approach
Lecture 1: Youth development in context: an interdisciplinary approach
Why focus on youth?
Most formative life phase transition to adulthood (education, job, relationships
and family formation)
Young people are drivers of change and innovation in society
History:
Early 20th century: Adolescence was born
The youth phase has been expanded youth is becoming a longer period
! Across the world, the mean age of menarchy has declined
! Mean age of mothers at birth first child has increased (1970: 24.3 2021: 30.3)
! Interdisciplinary = key
Positionality
,Positionality says something about the role of the researcher and their perspective on the
youngers.
Youth development in CONTEXT:
Young people are embedded in different contexts: families, peer groups, schools,
neighbourhoods, wider society etc.)
Each with different and interacting impacts on youth (development)
Relations between different levels and different disciplines
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system:
, 1. Different layers of environment influence each other
2. They constantly interact
3. The child/adolescent plays an active role in this
Children’s engagement in risky play
Teaches children to better asses and deal with risks
Contributes to positive cognitive, social and motor skills
Contributes to better mental and physical health
Boosts children’s confidence
approach
Lecture 1: Youth development in context: an interdisciplinary approach
Why focus on youth?
Most formative life phase transition to adulthood (education, job, relationships
and family formation)
Young people are drivers of change and innovation in society
History:
Early 20th century: Adolescence was born
The youth phase has been expanded youth is becoming a longer period
! Across the world, the mean age of menarchy has declined
! Mean age of mothers at birth first child has increased (1970: 24.3 2021: 30.3)
! Interdisciplinary = key
Positionality
,Positionality says something about the role of the researcher and their perspective on the
youngers.
Youth development in CONTEXT:
Young people are embedded in different contexts: families, peer groups, schools,
neighbourhoods, wider society etc.)
Each with different and interacting impacts on youth (development)
Relations between different levels and different disciplines
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system:
, 1. Different layers of environment influence each other
2. They constantly interact
3. The child/adolescent plays an active role in this
Children’s engagement in risky play
Teaches children to better asses and deal with risks
Contributes to positive cognitive, social and motor skills
Contributes to better mental and physical health
Boosts children’s confidence
