TY - JOUR
T1 - At-risk youths' self-sufficiency: The role of social capital and help-seeking orientation
AU - Schenk, Loïs
AU - Sentse, Miranda
AU - Lenkens, Margriet
AU - Engbersen, Godfried
AU - Mheen, Dike van de
AU - Nagelhout, Gera E.
AU - Severiens, Sabine
PY - 2018/8
Y1 - 2018/8
N2 - Youths' help-seeking orientation on the individual level, and the presence of bonding and bridging social capital at the contextual level, are important factors in explaining at-risk urban youths' self-sufficiency. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 at-risk youths aged 15–25 years in an urban area, to study youths' perceptions of help-seeking and social capital. Consequently, we attempted to uncover the associations between these concepts. The results indicate that only few youths had positive help-seeking orientations, irrespective of their preference for self-reliance. Sources of help that youths feel comfortable to activate in their immediate environment are limited, but support is also found in extended family members. Bridging social capital is mainly provided by professionals and comprises instrumental and informational support. Many youths believe they can be understood only by individuals who are similar to them, but simultaneously indicate a need for additional support from significant others.
AB - Youths' help-seeking orientation on the individual level, and the presence of bonding and bridging social capital at the contextual level, are important factors in explaining at-risk urban youths' self-sufficiency. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 at-risk youths aged 15–25 years in an urban area, to study youths' perceptions of help-seeking and social capital. Consequently, we attempted to uncover the associations between these concepts. The results indicate that only few youths had positive help-seeking orientations, irrespective of their preference for self-reliance. Sources of help that youths feel comfortable to activate in their immediate environment are limited, but support is also found in extended family members. Bridging social capital is mainly provided by professionals and comprises instrumental and informational support. Many youths believe they can be understood only by individuals who are similar to them, but simultaneously indicate a need for additional support from significant others.
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.06.015
U2 - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.06.015
DO - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.06.015
M3 - Article
SN - 0190-7409
VL - 91
SP - 263
EP - 270
JO - Children and Youth Services Review
JF - Children and Youth Services Review
ER -