To Örebro University

Children are vulnerable when exposed to parental alcohol abuse. Although much is known about children of alcoholics (COA), research examining the experiences of younger COA is scarce. To gain knowledge of the consequences for these children, it is important to ask the children themselves. This study explored the consequences for a child of having an alcoholic parent, from the point of view of 7-9-year-old COA. Eighteen children were interviewed, whose alcoholic parent was undergoing treatment, using a vignette. In the analysis, using qualitative content analysis, the findings show that the children of this young age had much experiences and took a great responsibility for their alcoholic parent, and the family. The most significant feeling of the children was a feeling of sadness. They tried to control the situation in different ways. They wished for a change in the future, but despite problems in the family they described things they did together with a loving parent. Implications include the importance of listening to and supporting all COA, also children as young as 7-9 years old. Further studies should address the support that can and should be offered to COA.

Background: Mental health problems among young women aged 16-24 have increased significantly in recent decades, and interventions are called for. Mentoring is a well-established preventative/promotive intervention for developing adolescents, but we have yet to fully understand how the relationship between the mentor and the protégé forms, develops, and closes. In this study, we focused on a female mentoring program implemented by a Swedish non-governmental organization, The Girls Zone. First, we examined the psychological and social characteristics of the young women who chose to take part in the program as protégés. Second, we investigated adolescent female protégés’ own experiences of the relationship process based on a relational-cultural theory perspective.

Methods: The mixed-method study included 52 questionnaires and five semi-structured interviews with young women aged 15–26 who had contacted The Girls Zone between 2010 and 2012 in order to find a mentor. Their experience of the mentoring relationships varied in duration. Data were analysed statistically and with inductive qualitative content analysis.

Results: The group of protégés was heterogeneous in that some had poor mental health and some had good mental health. On the other hand, the group was homogenous in that all its members had shown pro-active self-care by actively seeking out the program due to experiences of loneliness and a need to meet and talk with a person who could listen to them. The relationships were initially characterized by feelings of nervousness and ambivalence. However, after some time, these developed into authentic, undemanding, non-hierarchical relationships on the protégés’ terms. The closure of relationships aroused feelings of both abandonment and developing strength.

Conclusions: Mentorships that are in line with perspectives of the relational-cultural theory meet the relationship needs expressed by the female protégés. Mentor training should focus on promoting skills such as active listening and respect for the protégé based on an engaged, empathic, and authentic approach in a non-hierarchical relationship. These insights have the potential to inform interventions in several arenas where young women create authentic relationships with older persons, such as in school, in traditional health care contexts, and in youth recreation centres. 

The transition from adolescence to adulthood can bring with it mental health problems, resulting in reduced mental well-being among young women and an increasing public health issue. Perceived mental health problems can be a major obstacle to personal development and opportunities for becoming established in society. Thus, promotive interventions are needed.

The overall aim of this thesis was to explore women’s experience of mentoring relationships as health promotion from the perspectives of both parties in the dyad: the young woman transitioning from adolescence to adulthood (the protégé), and her ten-year-older female mentor.

This thesis used a practice-based approach to investigate a group of participants involved in a Swedish non-governmental organization, the Girls Zone. Data collection was conducted including interviews (n = 5) and surveys (n = 52) with female protégés, and interviews with female mentors (n = 12). Study I explored the characteristics of the female protégés and the development of the mentoring relationship, and used mixed methods. Study II, which investigated mentors’ initial motives and the organizational context which enabled the mentors’ engagement, used an explorative qualitative method.

This thesis showed that female mentoring relationships seem to have potential to be a health-promoting intervention. A variety of young women were attracted to the mentoring program, and mentorships in line with the perspectives of relational-cultural theory could meet the relationship needs expressed by the female protégés. Further, mentors’ motivations for engaging as mentors were linked to the fulfillment of basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, in accordance with the perspective of self-determination theory.

Objectives: This exploratory study investigates the prevalence of gambling, preferred types of gambling, and problem gambling in Swedish young people aged 15–18 years with and without hearing loss.

Methods: A cross-sectional health survey was conducted in Örebro County, Sweden in 2014. A standardized questionnaire was distributed to 4888 students, and 4329 filled it. There were 318 (8 %) students with hearing loss. The response rate was 82 %. The 2-item Lie/Bet questionnaire (Johnson et al. in Psychol Rep 80:83–88, 1997) was used for measuring problem gambling.

Results: More students with hearing loss had gambled during their lifetime (35 %) and in the past year (25 %) than their hearing counterparts (lifetime: 24 %; past-year: 19 %). More students with hearing loss compared to normal hearing students were identified as problem gamblers (7.7 % compared to 4.3 %).

Conclusion: More research is needed on gambling among people with hearing loss as well as other disabilities.

Mentoring aimed at supporting young people and their development shows promising results, but its delivery is threatened by the difficulty of recruiting sufficient numbers of mentors and keeping them engaged over time. The aim of this study was to help overcome this problem by examining female mentors’ motives for engaging in formal voluntary mentoring of young women, and exploring how organizations can facilitate these mentors’ satisfaction in staying engaged over time. Based on qualitative interviews with 12 mentors in a Swedish non-governmental organization, the Girls Zone, we show six categories of mentor motives related to initial motivation for engagement: self-interested reasons, empowering women, being a responsible citizen, sense of compassion, self-awareness, and longing for meaningfulness. In addition, we show five categories related to the organizational work of satisfying mentors: a win-win relationship, a feeling of ambivalence despite clear responsibilities and contributions, customized support and guidance, a caring organizational identity, and a commitment to pursue with feelings of duty and emotional connection. Using Self-Determination Theory as the framework to guide our understanding of the findings, we conclude that mentors’ motivations for engaging as mentors are linked to the fulfillment of basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Practical recommendations are offered in light of the findings.

Background:  In Sweden, there is a strong political belief that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are important in health promotion and prevention, particularly in the areas of alcohol, drugs, doping and tobacco (ANDT). The Government therefore annually allocates about 2 million euros for this work. This study highlights the involved NGOs, added values and obstacles within NGOs ANDT prevention and conditions required for a successful preventive work.

Method:  The study is based on 375 project grants including 190 unique projects implemented by 60 NGOs between the years 2003–2012 (Figure 1). In surveys every two years, a total of 168 questionnaires were answered by 112 different project leaders. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used for analysis.

Results:  There is a wide range and variety of different NGOs working with ANDT prevention. Added value of NGOs prevention work is that they counterbalance the public sector, have a familiarity and cultural competence that are important for the target groups and they possess a unique force in its voluntariness. Perceived barriers are shortterm project funds, time constraints, limited target group, lack of knowledge and trust from the surrounding society. Successful ANDT prevention requires a well-functioning organization with clear structures and support functions, a goal-oriented and knowledge-based work, support from the public sector and R & D as well as collaboration between different actors.

Conclusion:  With good organisational conditions and proper support NGOs can be an important complement to public ANDT prevention. They have an ability to reach and attract vulnerable target groups not reached by public interventions. There is a unique power and determination in NGOs.

Main messages:  NGOs play an important role and are an important complement within ANDT prevention. NGOs uniqueness creates an important added value in ANDT prevention.

Background: During adolescence, mental health problems, including anxiety and loneliness, among girls increase drastically. The perceived problems among this group do not match the inclusion criteria for mental health services and barriers to access occur. In Sweden, both the government and the voluntary sector provide services to youth. The Girls Zone (Tjejzonen) is a Swedish NGO, which targets young females. Its goal is to prevent mental health problems and to strengthen girls´ self-esteem, confidence, and trust by offering a female mentoring program. How can a NGO constitute a complement to the mental health services for young girls with mental health problems?                                                                       

Methods: In a qualitative, ecologically sensitive study young females aged 15 to 26 (n=5), women mentors (n=12) and organization managers (n=3) were interviewed and national supervisory reports on youth health services were included in inductive qualitative content analyses.                                                                                                              

Results: The analyzes show a variety of differences between the youth mental health services and the Girls Zone. Added value of the NGO is the availability, including support without inclusion criteria and a great potential to act based on young females conditions, needs and preferences including a possibility to establish a relationship with a female mentor without demand and hierarchy.                                                                                    

Conclusion: NGOs can act as important complements to the youth mental health service. A salutogenic perspective on young female’s mental health based on the Convention of Rights of the Children can empower young girls and reduce barriers for access to youth mental health service for those with severe mental health problems.                                          

Main messages: NGOs are important actors in the prevention of mental health problems among young females. NGOs can meet the needs and preferences of the target groups and facilitate empowering processes in preventing mental health problems among young females.

 Background: Problematic gambling is a public health problem. Deaf and hearing-impaired young people are a high-risk group regarding health and lifestyles. There are indications that young people with disabilities gamble to a greater extent than adolescents without disabilities. Whether this applies specifically to the group deaf and hearing-impaired adolescents is a knowledge gap. This pilot study aims to investigate the prevalence and type of gambling problems in deaf students (16-19 years old) and to identify the group's risk and protective factors for problematic gambling.

Methods: Data from the study Life & Health -Young People conducted in Örebro County, Sweden 2014 was used. This is a total, cross-sectional survey of young people's living conditions, lifestyles and health.  Students in grade 2 (17-18 years old) in upper secondary school were included in this study (n=2468, 75% response rate). A systematic search has also been conducted.

Results: A systematic search of the literature of problem gambling in the hard-of-hearing group reveals that this is an un-researched area. This could be one of the first studies researching gambling problems in this particular target group. Around 17 % of the total sample has gambled for money several times a month. Almost 8 % of this sample has some type of hard-of-hearing. The first results indicate that the hard-of-hearing group is gambling for money to a higher extent than normal hearing students.

Conclusions: There is a need to increase knowledge about gambling and problematic gambling in deaf and hearing-impaired adolescents. Knowledge about gambling in this target group will lay the foundation for the development of methods to counteract gambling problems which could improve the health within this high-risk group.

Main messages: There is a lack of research on problem gambling in the hard-of-hearing group.

There are indications that the hard-of-hearing group gambles for money to a higher extent than others young people.

Regeringsföreträdare och representanter för civila sektorn förutspår fortsatt växande idéburet engagemang, allt fler idéburna aktörer samt ökad professionalisering inom sektorn. Detta innebär att olika kunskaper och kompetenser blir allt viktigare för de idéburna organisationerna. Syftet med artikeln är att belysa jordmån för att kunna bedriva ett framgångsrikt ANDT-förebyggande arbete (Alkohol, Narkotika, Dopning, Tobak) inom en idéburen organisation. I resultatet framhålls vikten av att samhällets förebyggande aktörer accepterar varandras styrkor samt kompletterar varandra utifrån dessa. För att nå framgång i det förebyggande arbetet lyfts vikten av ett strukturerat, målinriktat, forsknings- och kunskapsbaserat arbete. Att vissa ekonomiska och politiska förutsättningar är uppfyllda framhålls också som viktigt för att nå framgång. Likaså en närmre kontakt och ett utökat samarbete mellan myndigheter, idéburna och forskare.

Government representatives and representatives of the civil sector predicts continued growth in civil society commitment, more and more actors in NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and increased professionalization of the sector. This means that different knowledge and skills are increasingly important for the NGOs. The aim of this article is to describe preconditions for conducting a successful ANDT prevention (Alcohol, Drugs, Doping, Tobacco) within a NGO. This result emphasizes the importance of community prevention stakeholders accepting each other’s strengths and complementarities. The importance of a structured, goal-oriented, research and knowledge-based work for success in prevention work is emphasized. Important for success is that certain economic and political conditions are fulfilled. Similarly, a closer contact and cooperation between government agencies, non-profit and researchers is also needed.