Barton J. Hirsch’s research while affiliated with Pennsylvania State University and other places

... 1.1 | Physical impairment of chronically ill parents and children's functioning Different types of chronic illness may be accompanied by distinct psychosocial demands on the family and varied effects on an individual's functional independence due to their unique characteristics (e.g., acute or gradual; progressive, stable, or episodic; fatal or nonfatal; predictable or uncertain; degree of direct and sustained impairment) (Rolland, 1999). Some research has suggested that the severity of parental chronic illness, rather than the type of illness (Hirsch et al., 1985;Sieh et al., 2012), is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in the family and in children and adolescents (e.g., Anderson, 2005;Landi et al., 2021;Pedersen & Revenson, 2012). Irrespective of the category of diagnosis, more severe parental physical impairment due to an illness places greater financial, social, and emotional demands on the family (Chen & Fish, 2013). ...

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Roles of physical functioning and comorbid mental illness of chronically ill parents and their spouses' health status in adolescent functioning

... There is evidence that mothers place higher value on exchanges and influences that occur within their social networks between their children and other nonrelated adults. This can only happen in networks where concordance of values leads nonrelated adults to feel that they have shared stake in the adolescent outcomes of local children and thus take an active interest in their lives (Hirsch et al., 1994). Studies show that social support processes mediate child development, but the characteristics of certain children (poor behavior or lack of respect) receiving such support can affect adults' willingness or enthusiasm to work with them or others. ...

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RECIPE FOR COLLECTIVE COMPLACENCY: SOCIAL BARRIERS IN A COMMUNITY-BASED AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

... Family dynamics, especially conflict, play a critical role in the emotional well-being of adolescents and have been shown to significantly influence suicide risk (Borowsky, Ireland, and Resnick 2001;Frey and Cerel 2015;Jiang et al. 2022). For Black adolescents, family is often a central source of social and cultural identity, offering both a protective buffer against external stressors and, paradoxically, a source of strain when conflict arises (Carlo et al. 2022;Hirsch, Mickus, and Boerger 2002). Our findings suggest that idioms of distress may overlap with or be exacerbated by family conflict, particularly in contexts where cultural expectations and family roles clash with individual stressors or identity struggles (e.g., race, gender, or sexual orientation). ...

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Establishing the Validity of a Cultural Assessment of Suicide Risks in Black Adolescents

... An interesting note about Angel's social support is that there are two instances she described that do not fit into the typical support aspects defined in the field. Rather than negative support (e.g., Hirsch, 1985) or a simple absence of support (La Gaipa, 1990), these two instances are more indicative of something akin to "null" support, in which an individual identifies a need for assistance but is either turned away by a potential source of support or consciously chooses not to approach that source (see Chapter 6 for a more detailed discussion of this phenomenon). ...

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Social Support Networks for Literacy Engagement among Culturally Diverse Urban Adolescents Social Support Networks for Literacy Engagement among Culturally Diverse Urban Adolescents

... Interviewees in this study did not reference specific activities, suggesting that more intentionally facilitating such conversations as part of the programming could have been even more beneficial for culturally similar and culturally different youth-adult relationships. Third, external support beyond individual-level efforts, such as culturally responsive program policies and practices, inclusive and safe environment, and initial and ongoing staff training, must come in tandem with fostering cultural dialogues between youth and adult program leaders, which will further yield optimal youth development (Hirsch et al., 2011;Simpkins et al., 2017;Yu et al., 2021). Researchers have underscored the need for ongoing cultural humility training (Outley et al., 2018;Redd et al., 2020;Richmond et al., 2018;Sánchez et al., 2021) and on how to have culturally sensitive conversations with youth (Albright et al., 2017). ...

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“He Knows Me as a Person”: Navigating Cultural Dynamics in Relational Pathways Towards Positive Youth-Adult Relationships in Youth Programs

... There are many different types of after-school programs that offer various opportunities for tutoring and instruction. After School Matters, in Chicago, offers project-based learning designed to enhance students' soft skills, as well as produce a final product based on activities conducted with the students (Hirsch, 2011). This program is run by instructors with expertise in the discipline; soft skills learned include teamwork and communication in order for the project to be completed (Hirsch, 2011). ...

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Expanding STEM Membership: Using Science Process Skills in a Social Justice Curriculum to Combat Stereotype Threats and Build Self-Efficacy in African American Students

... The PSI-SF has been used extensively in a variety of contexts and samples in the US (Haskett et al., 2006;Reitman et al., 2002;Smith et al., 2001), with good test-retest reliability (average score of 0.76) and high internal consistency (0.85) in the original validation study in rural and urban areas of Virginia (Abidin, 1990). Moreover, the PSI-SF has been found to have high test-retest reliability and validity in a sample of parents of South Africa children (Potterton et al., 2007) and sensitivity to change after parenting programs (Cowen & Reed, 2002;Wolfe & Hirsch, 2003). ...

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An Assessment of Trends in Parenting and Child Outcomes in a Rural South African Community and Consequent Intervention Design

... Internal assessments can yield information that is critical for a successful alliance. Your organization can gain a clear understanding of its strengths and assets, of what it is seeking from partners, and of possible benefits of the arrangement for each potential partner (Klein, 2012). For example, assessing your organization's strengths and opportunities for growth can help choose alliances that will add the most value to your organization's initiatives. ...

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Best practices for structuring successful strategic alliances. Research brief for the Sequor Youth Development Initiative.

... Age is an important component of intersectionality, with some critical social scientists arguing that the U.S extension of a lengthy period of adolescence may be explained through the political economy model (Côté and Allahar, 1996). For instance, governmental policies about legal age requirements for entering the labor force, the low standards for minimum wage, and business practices requiring more educational credentials for jobs for technical or professional work are beneficial to middle-aged workers (Côté & Allahar, 1996;Dornbusch, 1989;Hynes & Hirsch, 2012;Shanahan, 2000;Shanahan et al, 2005;Vondracek et al, 2003). The result is that the ever-widening category of youth can be construed as relegated to a disenfranchised class (Arnett, 2002;Côté & Allahar, 1996;Hertz, 2005). ...

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Harlem Pimps’ Accounts of Their Economic Pathways and Feelings of Insiderness and Outsiderness

... To put things into perspective, there is a large body of literature eliciting information about problems and challenges faced by first year college students such as depression, anxiety, searching for new social support, making decisions, isolation, academic pressure, etc. associated with life adjustments (Reischl and Hirsch, 1989;MacLennan and Dies, 1992;Feldman, 2005), managing the transition (Steltenpohl and Shipton, 1986) improving learning skills and the ability (Kuh et al., 1991;Hattie et al., 1996;Leamnson, 1999), increasing retention (Astin, 1975;Beal and Noel et al., 1980), etc. Yet, despite the range of literatures that exist, very few have emanated from emerging/developing countries with emphasis on engineering students. ...

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An empirical study of social support, stress and life satisfaction among engineering graduates: mediating role of perceived work/study life balance