At-risk youths' self-sufficiency: The role of social capital and help-seeking orientation

Abstract

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A randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a peer-based social mobile game intervention to reduce smoking in youth

“…First, as parts of this study took place in a controlled research environment with multiple “live” contact moments between participants and researchers, nonspecific factors, such as motivation to quit smoking, expectations, therapeutic alliance, and mindset, may have played a large role in boosting smoking cessation in both intervention groups (Boot et al, 2013; Crum, Leibowitz, & Verghese, 2017; Crum & Phillips, 2015; Dweck, 2006; McCuller, Sussman, Wapner, Dent, & Weiss, 2006; Newman, Szkodny, Llera, & Przeworski, 2011). For example, it may be that our casual talks with participants during pretest and post-test measurements, whereby we tried to be independent and nonjudgmental listeners to their stories and to understand their personal reasons and needs to quit smoking, might have been effective by actively supporting this highly motivated group of participants to help them quit smoking (Lenkens et al, 2019; Schenk et al, 2018). These nonspecific effects can be very valuable (Crum et al, 2015; 2017), but they may have limited the effect of the game mechanics specifically, which may have been found with an otherwise wait-list control.…”

“…Several intervention programs integrate peer influence processes in one way or another, such as by including social skill training that is directed at helping youth say no to smoking peers, by nonsmoking youth's giving support and advice to smoking youths, or by suggesting to spend less time with their smoking peers (Golechha, 2016; Sussman & Sun, 2009). These programs remain highly problematic, however, for several reasons: (a) the content is still solely targeted at the individual instead of a broader peer group (Gabble et al, 2015), (b) imbalanced relationships between the support giver and support taker are not helpful (Lenkens et al, 2019), and (c) these programs instigate high resistance among young smokers (Harakeh & Van Nijnatten, 2016; Schenk et al, 2018; Wolburg, 2006).…”

“…However, research indicates that young people are just as motivated to quit as adults are (Ramo et al, 2018), yet they are less likely to use the available adult evidence-based smoking cessation interventions (e.g., nicotine replacement therapy, medication, counseling, quit lines), instead trying to quit on their own (Curry, Sporer, Pugach, Campbell, & Emery, 2007; Fiore et al, 2008; Solberg, Asche, Boyle, McCarty, & Thoele, 2007; Thrul & Ramo, 2017). Indeed, young people value self-reliance and self-sufficiency (Lenkens et al, 2019; Schenk et al, 2018), which require both the capability of insight into your own situation and needs and the availability of social capital (Lauriks et al, 2014). Therefore, most youth expressed the desire to quit smoking using their own strength (Bader et al, 2007; Lenkens et al, 2019; Schenk et al, 2018) and they wanted help with their quit attempt, but not when this advice was didactic, outdated, or boring (Bader et al, 2007).…”

“…Indeed, young people value self-reliance and self-sufficiency (Lenkens et al, 2019; Schenk et al, 2018), which require both the capability of insight into your own situation and needs and the availability of social capital (Lauriks et al, 2014). Therefore, most youth expressed the desire to quit smoking using their own strength (Bader et al, 2007; Lenkens et al, 2019; Schenk et al, 2018) and they wanted help with their quit attempt, but not when this advice was didactic, outdated, or boring (Bader et al, 2007).…”

Experiential peer support and its effects on desistance from delinquent behavior: protocol paper for a systematic realist literature review

“…This might also be true of those who experience a fear of stigma, including from the person who is providing the help [5]. In a study on at-risk adolescents and emerging adults, the interviewees indicated that they did not want any help, since they felt that others did not understand them, especially when they had not been through similar experiences [6, 7]. The formal care system is overrepresented by highly educated people [8], who in most cases do not have any personal experience of delinquent behavior or even with growing up in a criminogenic environment.…”