The feasibility of an online discussion group as a component of targeted youth work in Finland

The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential of online group activities alongside one-to-one offline counselling in youth work targeted toward young adults not in employment or education. The study examines the feasibility of moderated anonymous online group (MAOG) discussions from a compre...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Children and youth services review 2019-10, Vol.105, p.104411, Article 104411
Main Authors: Kivijärvi, Antti, Aaltonen, Sanna, Välimäki, Vesa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Counseling
Employment
Feasibility
Feasibility study
Group activities
Internet
Intervention
Interviews
Loneliness
Mixed methods
Online group
Quasi-experimental methods
Social workers
Targeted youth work
Work groups
Young adults
Youth employment
Youth work
Youth workers
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential of online group activities alongside one-to-one offline counselling in youth work targeted toward young adults not in employment or education. The study examines the feasibility of moderated anonymous online group (MAOG) discussions from a comprehensive standpoint, with reference to the perspectives of end-users, service providers and further research. The paper is based on a two-arm, quasi-experimental and mixed methods study. To this end, the data consists of group interviews with young adults and youth workers arranged at the beginning of the study, baseline and follow-up interviews, online discussion threads, as well as evaluations of the online group activities. The piloted intervention was most acceptable to young adults who suffered from loneliness and had difficulties in joining face-to-face groups. Most youth work professionals considered the pilot viable. Finally, several modifications are suggested prior to implementing an experimental setting to study the effectiveness of the intervention. •Few services are targeting loneliness among young adults.•Web platforms offer a low-threshold opportunity to join group activities.•Feasibility is a comprehensive perspective for studying interventions.•Piloted intervention potentially enhances the wellbeing of certain young adults.•An RCT setting to study the effects of the intervention is presented.
ISSN:0190-7409
1873-7765
DOI:10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104411