Introduction
Lyon County is located in northwestern Nevada. It is 2,204 square miles in area with a population estimated at 40,000 (2002). There are approximately 8,000 school-aged youth grades Kindergarten through 12.
In July 2003, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension conducted a community situational analysis in Lyon County. The purpose of the analysis was to identify issues that Cooperative Extension might address through research and education programs.
Conducting the Analysis
The following assessment featured a postal mail survey. Questionnaire items to assess critical indicators of youth quality of life were based upon the conceptual framework provided by the National Academy of Science report, Community Programs to Promote Youth Development (Eccles and Appleton- Gootman, 2002). This report synthesizes a wide array of youth development research, presents characteristics associated with successful youth programs and represents the most current framework for understanding how community programs can enhance the positive development of youth.
Each question asked participants to indicate how youth issues affected the quality of life in their community. The choices featured a Likert scale using a five-point equal weighting with 1 being “not a concern,” and 5 being “a major concern.” In addition, each item included the choice “Don’t Know.”
Survey participants comprised a household sample of 400 voters randomly selected from the 2003 list of registered voters in Lyon County. Each randomly selected registered voter received in the mail a seven-page booklet-type questionnaire with a selfaddressed, stamped return envelope. A cover letter was included that explained the purpose of the survey, ensured confidentiality and thanked them for their input. The data collection protocol did not require “tracking” respondents and so received exemption from the University of Nevada, Reno, Office of Human Research Protection.
Results of the Analysis
Of the total 400 survey recipients, 163 returned completed questionnaires, resulting in a 41 percent response rate. An estimate of reliability of the 29 items was calculated and found to be high (r = .932) (Carmines & Zeller, 1979). This high score for instrument reliability indicates that the questions are consistent indicators for the items measured.
Descriptive statistics were calculated and provide a ranking of issues that are of “concern” and believed by survey respondents to affect the quality of life for youth in Lyon County. Ranked mean scores for each item are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Ranked Mean Scores for Respondents’ Ratings of Youth Issues Affecting Quality of Life (Ranked N & M)
| Youth Quality of Life Issues |
N |
M |
| Use of drugs and alcohol |
163 |
4.61 |
| Driving under the influence |
163 |
4.52 |
| Preventing teenage pregnancy |
153 |
4.49 |
| Peer pressure to be sexually active |
147 |
4.43 |
| Preventing A.I.D.S. |
153 |
4.38 |
| Finances to continue education |
145 |
4.33 |
| Parental support to continue education |
144 |
4.28 |
| Quality of K through 12 education |
137 |
4.26 |
| What to do after high school graduation |
144 |
4.26 |
| Parental support of children |
146 |
4.26 |
| Job skills training and preparation |
150 |
4.25 |
| Family abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) |
144 |
4.22 |
| Local access to technical and vocational school |
151 |
4.21 |
| Local part-time jobs for teens |
159 |
4.21 |
| Appropriate adult role models |
150 |
4.20 |
| Harassment from peers (bullying, teasing) |
146 |
4.18 |
| Youth suicide and depression |
146 |
4.16 |
| Dropping out of school |
148 |
4.16 |
| Doing well in school |
142 |
4.16 |
| Wise use of money (shopping and saving) |
147 |
4.10 |
| Local access to community college |
151 |
4.06 |
| Family’s ability to pay bills |
140 |
4.02 |
| Gangs and gang violence |
157 |
4.01 |
| Community support of families with children |
146 |
3.98 |
| Personal safety at school |
144 |
3.97 |
| Getting along with teachers |
134 |
3.91 |
| After school and out-of-school programs |
142 |
3.89 |
| Participating in crime and or vandalism |
142 |
3.88 |
| Being a victim of crime |
144 |
3.78 |
1 = not a concern; 2 = slight concern; 3 = neutral; 4 = a concern; 5 = major concern
Of the 29 items, 23 received ratings of 4 and above indicating that respondents consider the issue to be of concern in affecting community quality of life in Lyon County. The top five concerns were:
- Use of drugs and alcohol
- Driving under the influence
- Teenage pregnancy
- Peer pressure to be sexually active
- Preventing AIDS
A second group of issues also perceived as concerns that affect quality of life, but rating slightly lower, included:
- Finances to continue education
- Parental support to continue education
- Quality of K through 12 education
- What to do after high school graduation
- Parental support of children
Conclusions
Lyon County citizens who participated in a community situational analysis indicated that Lyon County’s youth face critical quality of life issues that place them at-risk. In addition to issues involving substance abuse, driving under the influence, teen pregnancy and preventing AIDS, additional issues of concern involve quality of education and access to pursue education after high school.
Additional research surrounding these issues, including surveying youth, is warranted. Additional research could help to clarify key issues to target through Cooperative Extension programs that provide education to both parents and youth about ways to identify and deal proactively with issues that place youth at-risk.
Alternatively, a pilot Extension program that addresses substance abuse and life style choices among youth may provide some immediate attention to perceived concerns. If a pilot program is successful then a youth survey may be incorporated to provide additional quality of life indicators from a youth point of view.
References
Carmines, E.G. & Zeller, R.A. (1979). Reliability and validity assessment. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
Eccles, J. & Appleton-Gootman, J. (Eds.). (2002). Community programs to promote youth development. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Lerner, R.M. (2004). Liberty: Thriving and civic engagement among America’s youth. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
