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Youth Participatory Approaches and Health Equity: Conceptualization and Integrative Review
Author(s) -
Ozer Emily J.,
Abraczinskas Michelle,
Duarte Catherine,
Mathur Ruchika,
Ballard Parissa Jahromi,
Gibbs Lisa,
Olivas Elijah T.,
Bewa Marlene Joannie,
Afifi Rima
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1002/ajcp.12451
Subject(s) - conceptualization , participatory action research , photovoice , community based participatory research , health equity , sociology , public relations , community psychology , health psychology , clarity , social determinants of health , public health , empowerment , youth participation , equity (law) , psychology , political science , social psychology , medicine , economic growth , nursing , artificial intelligence , computer science , law , biochemistry , chemistry , anthropology , economics
There is an array of youth participatory approaches relevant to health equity efforts in community psychology, adolescent health, youth development, and education. While they share some commonalities, they also reflect important distinctions regarding key processes and intended level of impact. Here, we consider the following: (a) youth‐led participatory action research (YPAR), (b) youth organizing (YO), (c) youth‐led planning, (d) human‐centered design, (e) participatory arts, and (f) youth advisory boards. Informed by community psychology theories on empowerment and levels of change and social epidemiology frameworks that focus on the social determinants of health inequities, we aim to promote greater clarity in the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of youth participatory approaches; frame the “landscape” of youth participatory approaches and their similarities and differences; present an integrative review of the evidence regarding the impact of youth participatory approaches; and describe several illustrative cases so as to consider more deeply how some youth participatory approaches aim to influence the social determinants of health that lead to the physical embodiment of health inequities. We conclude by identifying areas of future policy‐ and practice‐relevant research for advancing youth participation and health equity.