What is positive youth development and how might it reduce substance use and violence? A systematic review and synthesis of theoretical literature.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Preventing adolescent substance use and youth violence are public health priorities. Positive youth development interventions are widely deployed often with the aim of preventing both. However, the theorised mechanisms by which PYD is intended to reduce substance use and violence are not clear and existing evaluated interventions are under-theorised. Using innovative methods, we systematically searched for and synthesised published theoretical literature describing what is meant by positive youth development and how it might reduce substance use and violence, as part of a broader systematic review examining process and outcomes of PYD interventions.

Methods

We searched 19 electronic databases, review topic websites, and contacted experts between October 2013 and J

SUBMITTER: Bonell C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4748512 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature