For immigrant and refugee youth, the experience of migration presents significant life changes in their environments, communities, and interpersonal affiliations (Kilbride, Anisef, Baichman-Anisef & Khattar, 2001). Before immigrating to Canada, some refugee youth experienced horrific events that can be traumatic to the fragile identities and sense of belonging of developing children and adolescents. Once in Canada, loneliness, isolation, language deficits, different cultural practices, and in some cases different skin colors may isolate refugee youth and thus jeopardise their sense of belonging in their new country. This study investigated a sense of belonging of war affected refugee youth during their pre-migration and post-migration periods, as well as the factors that may enhance or hinder their sense of belonging. Fifteen participants were interviewed and their responses clearly indicated their desire and need to belong in their new country, to be liked, loved, respected, included, and be part of their new society. Recommendations on how educators can support their quest for belonging and inclusion are discussed.

Background: Physical activity (PA) reduces visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in adults; however, the dose to reduce VAT in youth is unclear. Objective: To examine whether high intensity PA preferentially reduces waist circumference (WC) and VAT compared to lower intensity PA. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Participants: Youth were 13-18yrs, overweight, with one additional risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Intervention: 6-months, exercising 3 times/week at a high intensity (70-85% of Heart Rate Reserve HRR), or low intensity (40-55% HRR). Primary outcome: VAT (cm2) measured by MRI at L4-L5, and WC at the height of the iliac crest (cm). Results: 94 Youth were randomized to either high intensity (n=30); low intensity (n=32) or control (n=32). Changes in WC and VAT were not significant across groups. A trend towards a reduction in VAT in the training groups, compared to controls was demonstrated in sub-analysis (-14.3 ± 9.6 % vs. +0.01 ± 0.4 %, p= 0.059). Peak fitness increased significantly in both the high and low intensity arms (1.3 ± 0.6 and 1.4 ± 0.6 ml/kg/min, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Training at 55-65% HRR improves fitness by ~10%, and ~2 days/week elicits modest non-significant reductions in VAT in overweight youth.

This study was concerned with investigating young people’s consumption, interactions and attitudes towards pornography. However, obtaining valid answers to sensitive questions is an old and persistent problem in survey research (Coutts & Jann, 2011). Therefore, a second objective of this study was to assess the methodological efficacy of the Unmatched-Count Technique (UCT). The UCT is a survey protocol that provides greater levels of anonymity in the attempt to elicit more truthful responses than conventional survey techniques regarding sensitive issues/behaviours. In this study the base rates of UCT were compared to those obtained by an online self-report questionnaire (SRQ). One hundred and forty five students ages 18-24 from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus, completed an online questionnaire. Participants were either assigned to the UCT or the SRQ. The results revealed that the majority (93.75%) of the sample had been exposed to pornography, more males (76.00%) than females (23.07%) consumed pornography, and that male participants tended to express a more positive-accepting attitude towards pornography than the female participants. A Two-Sample Z-Test was used to compare the base rates of the UCT and the SRQ. The results suggest that the SRQ underestimates base-rates in comparison to the UCT The results illustrate that young people are interacting and consuming pornography within the South African context and as such future research should be aimed at further exploring this genre of sexual media. Furthermore, this study adds to the empirical work which employs the UCT and highlights the efficacy and potential of the technique. Keywords: attitudes, pornography, South Africa, unmatched-count technique, young people. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

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The present study examined developmental and gender differences in youths' attitudes toward gambling. Phase I of the study involved a quantitative analysis of gambling attitudes among 1408 students from Elementary and Secondary Schools. Participants ranging from 8 to 20 years of age completed the Attitudes and Gambling Activities Questionnaire (AGAQ) and scaled questions designed to delineate the perceived degree of skill and luck involved in various gambling activities. The frequency and reasons youth engage in specific gambling activities and explored attitudes and their relationship to perceptions of perceived control over gambling outcomes. Results revealed age and gender related attitudes toward gambling that may increase their vulnerability to developing problem gambling were examined. Older youth expressed more tolerance of gambling activities while young children under-estimated the addictive nature of gambling and over-estimated the degree of control over gambling outcomes. Males expressed being less fearful of getting caught gambling and had much more tolerant attitudes toward gambling behaviors. Furthermore, those youth found to have a greater number of permissive and/or irresponsible attitudes also had greater misperceptions concerning the degree of skill involved in gambling. Phase II of the study elaborated upon quantitative findings through focus group analysis involving 59 participants in grades 4, 7, 9 and 11. Results expanded upon findings regarding youths' perceptions of gambling and attitudes towards gambling at school, and outline youths' understanding of responsible gambling. Findings are discussed in terms of their utility for youth problem gambling prevention programming and future directions for research are suggested.

The current study empirically examined the relations between several risk and protective variables associated with adolescent gambling. More specifically, the relations among self-reported familial, emotional, social, and behavioral variables and youth gambling problems were investigated. The current study also sought to identify risk factors that may be related to youth problem gambling. Participants consisted of 2,336 students in grades 7 to 13 (ages 12 to 19) recruited from various elementary and high schools in the Province of Ontario. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding gambling activities (GAQ), gambling severity (DSM-IV-MR-J), perceived social support (PSS Friend and Family), drug and alcohol dependence (PESQ), and various social, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and attentional problems (CASS:L). With respect to gambling severity as assessed by the DSM-IV-MR-J gambling screen, 4.9% of adolescents were found to be probable pathological gamblers, and 8.0% at-risk gamblers. The results identified a multitude of problems experienced by problem gamblers. These risk factors for problem gambling include academic difficulties, poor perceived familial and peer social support, cognitive problems, emotional problems, substance use problems, conduct problems, family problems, parental involvement in gambling and substances, and ADHD and related symptoms, particularly inattention. The magnitude of problems and psychopathology that are reported by probable pathological gamblers and at-risk problem gamblers demonstrates that these individuals are experiencing difficulties and are likely using their gambling to escape their problems. The current study also enabled the identification of a set of predictor variables which lead to problem gambling, including having family problems, conduct problems, being addicted to drugs or alcohol, and being male. These findings are interpreted with respect to their implications for the development of risk reduction prevent

The present study examined the relationship between several risk and protective variables associated with problem gambling, substance abuse, and other multiple risk-taking activities by adolescents. With the goal of identifying protective factors that prevent youth from escalating from social gambling to serious problem gambling, this research examined the relationship between family cohesion, school connectedness, coping and adaptive behaviours, mentor relationships, achievement motivation, involvement in conventional organizations, and the development of three health-compromising outcomes---youth problem gambling, substance abuse, and involvement in multiple risk-taking behaviours (e.g., smoking, unsafe sexual activity, and reckless driving). The sample consisted of 2,179 students, ages 11 to 19, in the Province of Ontario. Family and school connectedness were associated with decreased involvement in excessive gambling, substance use, and multiple risk-taking activities. Furthermore, an examination of the effect of potential protective factors on a set of risk factors predictive of adolescent problem gambling suggested that family cohesion plays a role in the prediction of probable pathological gamblers and those at risk for developing a gambling problem. These findings were interpreted with respect to their implications for the development and implementation of prevention programs.