About the International Youth Development Study
What is IYDS?
The International Youth Development Study (IYDS) is...
- A research study aimed at understanding the healthy development of young people.
- A joint project between the Social Development Research Group, located in the School of Social Work at the University of Washington, in Seattle, USA and the Centre for Adolescent Health, part of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute at the Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, in Melbourne, Australia.
Project Description
The International Youth Development Study (IYDS) is a long-term study that looks at the development of healthy and problem behaviours among young people in the state of Victoria, Australia and the state of Washington, United States.
IYDS is one of the first studies designed to examine whether or not differences in Australian and American cultures and schools affect youth development.
Student & School Surveys
Between 2002 and 2004 students from across Victoria and Washington took part in a survey every year to provide information about the types of things that affect their lives. The surveys asked about students’ social lives, their feelings, and their experiences at school, as well as their experiences with and beliefs about drugs and alcohol. We also looked at the effect of school drug policies on students by asking their opinions about their school’s policies. In addition, we have asked school principals about the types of alcohol and drug use policies at each school and what happens to students who break the rules.
In 2006 & 2008, the Victorian arm of the study received funding to continue surveying the youngest cohort of students in the study for another 4 years (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010). These surveys continued to ask about students' experiences at school, including their experience of school discipline procedures, their social lives and feelings, and their experiences with and beliefs about antisocial behaviour.
This further funded study also includes a survey of year 11 teachers at IYDS schools. The survey will be carried out in 2010 and will ask teachers about their own wellbeing, the school's student management approaches and school climate.
Young adult surveys
In 2009, the Victorian arm of the study received funding to re-contact participants from the middle and oldest cohorts in Victoria. Participants were aged 19 – 22 years and were asked to complete a brief questionnaire about their work and study since completing school.
In 2010, the IYDS was awarded further funding from the Australian government to follow-up participants into young adulthood. This year we will be surveying all the original IYDS participants from Victoria to ask about life as a young adult. This study will allow us to investigate the factors early in life which influence behaviour and experiences in adulthood.
This latest IYDS young adult follow-up study is funded for 5 years. We plan to survey all Victorian study participants in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Our partners in Washington State are also applying for United States funding to follow-up their original participants. This would allow us to compare the views and experiences of IYDS participants who have grown up in Washington State with those of participants who have grown up in Victoria.
Analysis
The project has also received additional funding from both the Australian and U.S. governments to further analyse the existing survey data. Funding from the U.S. will support further investigation about what factors influence alcohol use in young people and the consequences of early alcohol use. While funding from the Australian government will support investigation of the factors that influence tobacco and marijuana use and the short and long-term consequences of using these substances.
Aims and Objectives
The International Youth Development Study aims to improve the lives of young people by:
- Understanding how families, schools, communities and peer groups influence young people's behaviour in terms of school performance, mental health and substance use.
- Determining whether or not young people in Victoria and Washington State report similar healthy and problem behaviours.
- Investigating the effects of different school substance use policies on student behaviour and examining the impact of school discipline approaches on student behaviour, wellbeing and educational outcomes. This will allow us to help schools develop guidelines that will best support students’ health.
- Investigating the effects of school discipline approaches and school climate on teacher wellbeing. This will allow us to help schools develop guidelines that will support teachers' health which, in turn, will increase their capacity to support students.
- Investigating which factors early in life influence behaviour and experiences in young adulthood.
Procedures
To create a detailed picture of youth development in Victoria and Washington State, the IYDS:
- Surveyed over 150 randomly selected public and private schools from Victoria and Washington State in 2002.
- One class per school was invited to take part in the study. Selected classes were from three year levels: Grade 5 (age 10), Year 7 (age 12) and Year 9 (age 14).
- Approximately 1000 students at each of the three year levels in both Victoria and Washington took part in the study, giving a total of nearly 6000 students
Information is collected from the following sources:
Student Surveys. Students completed a questionnaire at school in 2002, 2003 and 2004, telling us about their lives and experiences. The youngest students in the Victorian arm of our study were also surveyed again in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Also in 2008, some students will be involved in a more detailed interview which will provide a richer understanding of the school environment.
School Administrator Surveys. An administrator at each school completed a mail survey in 2002, 2003 and 2004, providing information about their school’s substance use policies and practices.
Parent Telephone Interviews. Parents completed a brief telephone interview in 2002, providing details on family background and parental awareness of school policies.
Young Adult Surveys. All participants from Victoria will be invited to complete a web-based survey in 2010, 2012 and 2013, telling us about their lives and experiences in young adulthood.
Year 11 Teacher Survey. Year 11 teachers from IYDS schools will be asked to complete a brief survey asking about their own wellbeing, the school's student management approaches and school climate.