Boston University School of Public Health MassHousing’s Annual Community Service Conference The Kids Are Alright: Engaging and Supporting Youth in Housing Worcester, MA June 10, 2011 Sophie Godley, MPH Clinical Assistant Professor Director, Undergraduate Education

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health How do we understand and support youth in our lives?

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health What crazy things did you do when you were a teenager? Be careful what you post on Facebook. Whatever you do, it will be pulled up later in your life. President Obama, September 8, 2009 Wakefield, VA

Boston University School of Public Health TODAY Data on Massachusetts youth Developmental tasks of adolescence Understanding youth in context: youth culture Resilience and opportunity

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health My perspective  Public health  Data, policies, context  Community  Geography matters  Behavioral Science  Preventing disease and promoting health  Culture  Love

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Who are Massachusetts youth?  Youth make up 20% of the population of MA: 1,306,687 youth and young adults aged 10–24 years  75.7% White, non-Hispanic  10.8% Hispanic  7.9% Black, non-Hispanic  5.3% Asian  0.3% American Indian (more diverse than MA adults)  15% of all Massachusetts students in grades kindergarten through 12 have a primary language other than English 1 Godley6/12/20166

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health More data on Massachusetts youth  9% of Massachusetts high school students either identified themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and/or reported some same sex behavior.  Almost 20% of males and 13% of females aged less than 18 years in Massachusetts have a special health care need 1 Godley6/12/20167

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health The Health of Massachusetts youth  We have the 3rd lowest teen birth rate in the nation.  Currently, 27% of middle school students and 25% of high school students are either overweight or obese according to their own self-reported height and weight. 2  Massachusetts youth are less likely to smoke tobacco, but more likely to use marijuana and to binge drink than their peers across the nation.  Seat belt use is improving, but Massachusetts youth are less likely to use seat belts than their peers nationally.  Injuries account for nearly three quarters (72%) of all deaths among youth aged 15–24 years 1 Godley6/12/20168

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Location. Location. Location.

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Health, education, employment inequalities.

Boston University School of Public Health DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS OF ADOLESCENCE Why are they so crazy? Presentation Title6/12/

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Stages of adolescence: early  Ages (used to be …) GENDER DIFFERENCES!  Typical: Struggle with sense of identity, moodiness, Close friendships gain importance, Capacity for abstract thought is developing.  Risk taking: Rule and limit testing, experimentation with cigarettes, drugs and alcohol, and sexuality. Early girls.  Family: starting to separate, Less affection shown to parents, rudeness 6/12/ BUT WHYYYYYYYYYY ?

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health  Ages  Typical: Self-involvement, strong emphasis on peers, self- examination, greater capacity for reason  Risk-taking: Extremely concerned with appearance and with one's body, Feelings of strangeness about one's self and body, frequent changing relationships  Family: Complaints that parents interfere with independence, Lowered opinion of parents, withdrawal of emotions from them Godley6/12/ Stages of adolescence: middle

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Stages of adolescence: late  Ages 17 – 19 (and longer?) Boys catch up?  Typical: firmer identity, ability to delay gratification, ability to think ideas through, express feelings in words, more developed sense of humor, stable interests, greater emotional stability, compromise, sets goals and follows through, sexual relationships can match emotional relationships, self-regulation of self-esteem  Risk-taking: dependent on previous stages  Family: independent decision making, self-reliance, “returning” Godley6/12/201614

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Understanding teen brain development  Everything changes once we can observe brains  Greatest changes to parts of brain responsible for self- control, judgment, emotions, and organization occur during teen years  Overproduction of gray matter (just prior to puberty)  Followed by pruning (use it or lose it)  Myelinization (hard wiring)  Impact of alcohol, sleep  Understanding emotions: still in progress Godley6/12/201615

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Hormones and developing brains  Abundant and highly active sex hormones are released during puberty  Hormonal environment influences the neurotransmitters that regulate mood, excitability  Peak levels of dopamine in adolescence, increasing the motivation for pleasurable stimulation Godley6/12/201616

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Developmental risk  Self-control in progress  Impulsivity  Excessive sensation-seeking  Short-sightedness  Failure to think ahead  Susceptibility to influence of others  Orientation toward immediate gratification  Yes, they really are performing. 6/12/

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health A true sense of invincibility  Incapable of being conquered, overcome, or subdued  More pronounced in high-risk youth  Newly enhanced physical and cognitive abilities, combined with increased independence make teenagers feel very powerful  Convinced that consequences will not apply to them 6/12/

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health  Adults – Prefrontal cortex (executive function) = consider consequences  Teens - amygdala (emotional center of brain) = gut reaction  Adult behavior & circumstances BUT there is no adult brain!  Non-routine situations and circumstances (typical in risky situations) when judgment calls need to be made and emotional influences are high: gut reaction takes over completely 6/12/ Decision making

Boston University School of Public Health TEEN CULTURE An ever moving target Presentation Title6/12/

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health None of these couples are still couples…

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Messages for Girls & Boys

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health  Drinking and sex go hand-in-hand: that’s normal.  Rihanna did something that made Chris Brown mad – it was her fault he hit her. 3  It’s OK to let your boyfriend sneak into your room at night and watch you sleep.  It’s important to keep your relationships a secret from your parents.  Sexting is normal. Messages being delivered

Boston University School of Public Health Promoting y outh resilience: Caring relationships. High expectations. Meaningful participation.

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Godley6/12/201626

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health 6/12/ Supporting Youth  Setting limits on sexualized environments (Stop the thong!)  Creating alternate choices for “being a man” and “being a woman”  We need to focus our messages for boys  Supporting youth development  Stop pathologizing normal experimentation, and normal gender age gaps in development.  Any adult can make a difference. Any adult.

Boston University School of Public Health  Boston University School of Public Health  Talbot Building 715 Albany St. Office 424 East Wing  Boston, MA  Ph: 617/  Facebook: Sophie Godley  Twitter: Contact Sophie Godley, MPH

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Then… and now!

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Boston University School of Public Health Sources  1. Shared Vision for MA Youth (2008)  2. MA YRBS (2009)  3. Boston Public Health Commission Start Strong (2009)  Also:  California Healthy Kids Survey (2011)  Boston Public Health Commission (2011)