Diego Busiol

A Longitudinal Study of Compensated Dating and Juvenile Prostitution Behaviors Among Adolescents in Hong Kong

STUDY OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal changes in compensated dating (CD) and juvenile prostitution (JP) behaviors and related psychosocial correlates among Hong Kong adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this study, adolescent CD and JP behaviors were examined in 3 waves (namely wave 2, 3, and 4) of a longitudinal study. At wave 2 (2010-2011), 3638 secondary 2 students (grade 8) from 28 schools participated in the study (mean age, 13.60 years; SD = 0.72). In the following 2 academic years (2011-2012 and 2012-2013), they were invited to respond to the same questionnaire. A total of 2921 students completed the questionnaire in 3 waves and their results were analyzed. RESULTS The number of CD cases was higher than JP cases. Although there was a decline in CD cases at wave 4, the number of JP cases increased at wave 4. Although there was some support for the influence of family intactness and positive youth development on CD and JP, the evidence was not strong. The effects of gender, economic disadvantage, and family functioning on CD and JP were not significant. CONCLUSION There was a decrease in CD but an increase in JP in the 3 waves of data. However, there was a fluctuation of CD over the years which made it difficult to identify a stable pattern. Some possible explanations for such a fluctuation and the related nonsignificant findings are proposed.

Prevention of Internet Addiction: The P.A.T.H.S. Program

The effects and consequences of Internet addiction might seem less showy and dramatic than, for example, the effects of substance abuse or bullying. Internet addiction is a much more silent problem, and as such, it might be more easily ignored or even not recognized as a problem. In this chapter, it is argued that an effective prevention program against Internet addiction should first of all promote positive youth development among adolescents. Results from previous research showed that students participating in Project P.A.T.H.S. showed higher levels of psychosocial competencies and less problem behavior than students in a control group. Project P.A.T.H.S. aims at reducing adolescents’ antisocial behavior, substance use, and Internet addiction primarily by improving their psychosocial competencies. This chapter will illustrate how these developmental issues are explored within the special teaching units included in the extension phase of Project P.A.T.H.S. on Internet addiction.

Help-seeking behaviour and attitudes towards counselling: a qualitative study among Hong Kong Chinese university students

ABSTRACT This study examined Hong Kong university students’ perception of general help-seeking and seeking of professional help. Thirty-two students, aged from 25 to 46 years were interviewed. A grounded theory approach was adopted. The results indicated four domains to categorise culture-influenced factors: attitudes towards speaking, relational concern, nature of the problem and assumptions about counselling. Hong Kong students are not reluctant to receive help but are reluctant to seek help from outsiders. Help is expected to be received from those within their social network. Passive coping strategies are normally adopted for finding relief and solving problems. These issues may greatly hinder people from consulting professional counsellors, or may limit the counselling process to something superficial and short term. The implications for counsellors are discussed.

The Development of a Listening Scale

Purpose: This study presents the development and initial validation of a Listening Scale (LS) that was used to assess the listening skills of a sample of Hong Kong counseling professionals and the potential penetration of psychoanalysis among this sample. Method: A total of 217 Hong Kong social workers, psychologists, and counselors were surveyed to develop and assess the scale’s internal psychometric properties. Results: Factor analysis confirmed a single factor structure for the LS, with 8 items. Internal reliability was good and discriminative validity was supported by comparisons with background information. Discussion: The LS shows promise as a meaningful, reliable, and valid measure. The LS could be useful to assess important dimensions of the practice of counseling professionals and to better assist their client-centered practice, and as a formative instrument for use by counseling professionals. Finally, the LS can assess the penetration of psychoanalysis where the psychoanalytic theory is not strong.

A review of adolescent prevention and positive youth development programs in non-English speaking European countries

Abstract In this paper, adolescent prevention and positive youth development programs in non-English speaking European countries are reviewed. A survey of the literature published in English, Italian, German, French, and Spanish language between 1994 and 2014 reported a total of 61 programs which have been evaluated by studies using quasi- or true experimental designs. Several observations are highlighted from this review. First, prevention programs outnumber positive youth development programs in Europe. Second, some countries spend significantly more effort and financial support on preventive programs than others. Third, some countries/regions deal with some specific adolescent problems more than other regions. Fourth, there are variations in the use of international standards for implementing and assessing programs as well as disseminating results. Finally, while most of the existing school-based programs are conducted at the local level, there are very few cross-country projects.

Preventing and Combating Internet Addiction: A Concept Review

The use of the Internet has brought a variety of conveniences to our modern life. Nonetheless, negative impacts are also created by addictive behavior to the Internet pervasively affecting one’s academic and working performance, family life, social relationships, physical health, and psychological well-being. Internet addiction is becoming a serious problem across the world, especially for adolescents. In the past years, several studies have examined the prevalence of youth Internet addiction across cultures and will be presented in this chapter. Some studies suggest that Internet addictive behavior is not a transient phenomenon that naturally disappears as adolescents grow up; this implies that prevention might be essential for addressing this issue. Finally, it is difficult to say whether Internet addiction is a stand-alone problem or not, given that it does not exist independently but is associated with other manifestations, as presented here.

Construction of a Conceptual Framework on Money Literacy

The cultivation of a positive concept of money and success among adolescents is of paramount concern to parents, teachers, helping professionals, and policymakers. Indeed, recent research in Hong Kong showed that a large number of adolescents would consider using unethical or even unlawful means to get money. Young people’s value judgments toward money are affected by the relationships between money and self-image, family relationships, one’s life mission, and the social environment; these issues are critical for the development of measures that help prevent the phenomenon of an excessive materialistic orientation among adolescents and should be considered prior to the implementation of a money literacy program. In this chapter, the notion of financial education is reviewed in order to develop a conceptual framework for guiding preventive actions.

Review of the Relationships Between Resilience and Positive Youth Development

Resilience is the process of, capacity for, or outcome of successful adaptation despite challenging or threatening circumstances. There is a growing consensus from child and adolescent research on important protective factors, such as (1) bonding, (2) competence, (3) optimism, and (4) environment (organized home environment, authoritative parenting (high on warmth, structure/monitoring, and expectations), socioeconomic advantages, effective schools). According to various theories or models, there are eight possible relationships between resilience and positive youth development. Four of the relationships take resilience as a forerunner of positive youth development, and four others regard resilience as a result of positive youth development. These eight possible relationships between resilience and positive youth development are not necessarily mutually exclusive, since they can operate at the same time in an additive way. Evidence supporting the contribution of resilience to positive youth development will be discussed.

Prevention of Drug Abuse Among Young People: A Conceptual Framework

Recent research shows that the youth drug problem in Hong Kong is escalating. Ketamine is the most abused drug, followed by ecstasy, ice, cocaine, and cannabis. There are biological and psychological as well as sociological theories of drug use. Each theory provides a partial explanation for drug use and has important prevention, treatment, and policy implications. With the explanations provided by biologists, psychologists, and sociologists, an integrated model of factors contributing to adolescents’ use and abuse of psychotropic drugs is presented. Adopting an ecological and positive youth development perspective, the protective and risk factors against drug use will be discussed, with a specific focus on youth in Hong Kong. Finally, a set of guidelines for conducting anti-drug prevention with students will be presented.

Principles for the Construction of a School-Based Sex Education Program

Recent research showed that today an increasing number of adolescents have an active sex life in Hong Kong. However, the emerging needs of adolescents are not met, as today’s standard of sex education is both variable and inconsistent in Hong Kong. Other countries such as the USA, Britain, Germany, France, and the Netherlands have put much effort into introducing or expanding sex education in schools; these experiences will be critically presented and analyzed. Protective and risk factors are defined as factors that can both directly influence behavior and moderate the relationship between risk and behavior. Protective and risk factors will be presented in detail, highlighting those which can be addressed in the context of a school-based program. Finally, in light of the previous literature, a conceptual framework for a prevention program will be proposed.