Youth – Adult Connectedness: Implications for Positive Youth Development

Over the past three decades there has been a paradigm shift in how the policymakers look at the youth. Youth is no longer seen as a dependent and vulnerable group that needs protection, rather they are seen as “resources to be developed”. The Positive Youth Development approach addresses the risk factors while nurturing the protective factors. In India, youths are persons in the age group of 15-29 years (NYP, 2014) which constitute one third of the population.Constructive efforts are being made by Government of India to strengthen youth development through a number of national programmes. Efficacy of any such programme is dependent on understanding the idiosyncrasies of the youth who seek opportunities for both individuations and human connectedness. The present research is designed to explore the extent to which the adolescents’ own sense of connectedness to the adults act as protective factor against the risk factors experienced by them.Focus group discussions (n=20) and in-depth interviews (n=10) were conducted with 15 to 19-year olds living in Delhi, to tap on their everyday experiences more so their engagement with adults in the community. Thematic analysis revealed parental disconnectedness and peer engagement, adultism or adult allies and benefits of youth-adult connectedness as salient themes. Implications for program, practice, and policy are discussed focusing on what strengthens or hinders caring, connected youth–adult relationships and consequently positive youth development.

Keywords: Youth – Adult Connectedness, Positive Youth Development, Adultism