Goal – Directed Project Support for New Adult Newcomers to Canada
R. Young (PI), J. Domene, Y. Liu, N. Popadiuk ; SSHRC 2017-2020
The transition to adulthood can be a particularly challenging time for young people as they plan and engage in educational, occupational, relational and other pursuits pertinent to long-term life goals (Young et al., 2011). These tasks can be compounded for young adult newcomers to Canada, who may be experiencing additional challenges associated with resettlement such as adjusting to a new culture, learning a new language, social discrimination, marginalization, and family systems changes (Driver & Beltran, 1998, Sampson & Gifford, 2010; Thabet, Abed & Vostanis, 2004). Our objective is to implement and investigate a counselling intervention that supports young adult newcomers in identifying and engaging in joint projects (a series of goal-directed actions occurring with significant others over time) pertinent to educational, occupational, and other important life tasks.
In the first phase of our SSHRC-funded research program, we described the transition-to-adulthood joint actions and projects across multiple young adult populations (Young et al., 2008; Young et al., 2011; Young, Domene, & Valach, 2015; Young et al., 2016 a, b). We established that young people in the transition to adulthood engage in joint projects with significant others that are important to their transition-to-adulthood process. In the second phase, initiated in this proposal, we intend to investigate the application of this approach as the basis for a contextual action-theory-based supportive intervention for young adult newcomers to Canada, developed by the principal investigator and colleagues through SSHRC-funded research.
Research Questions: In three locations in Canada (Vancouver, Fredericton, and Victoria), the study will address the following research questions:
- How can an intervention based on the goal-directed joint projects facilitate the career, employment, education, and other life roles of young adult newcomers to Canada?
- How do young adult newcomers to Canada describe the experience of engaging in this type of intervention, based on goal-directed joint projects?
- What is the effectiveness of this intervention as indicated by participants’ reported satisfaction and their change over time in their career adaptability, goal attainment, social inclusion and well-being?
Method. The present study will involve a mixed method design using the qualitative action project method and quantitative repeated measures ANOVA design. A sample of 45 young adults ages 18-25 will be recruited to participate in the intervention. The intervention involves videotaped counselling sessions, video self-reflection, goal identification and facilitation; between-session homework assignments; and follow-up telephone conversations. Standardized measures will be administered throughout the intervention process to assess satisfaction with the intervention, career adaptability, goal attainment, social inclusion and well-being. Data analyses and reporting will focus on participant outcomes and satisfaction with the intervention, based on the development of goal-directed actions and projects and on their self-described experience of participating in the intervention.
Significance. The present research aims to gain empirical support for an innovative counselling intervention for young adult newcomers to Canada. The findings will be reported in pertinent research and practice journals, such as the Journal of Counseling Psychology and the Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies. The proposed intervention will potentially benefit young adult newcomers’ joint projects related to their transition to adulthood in Canada through supporting adjustment, personal growth and development, connection to social support networks, and pursuit of goals. Furthermore, the findings of this research will inform the development of a randomized control group trial of the intervention in the third, next phase of our research program.
We are currently recruiting participants for this study. Specifically, we are looking for pairs of young adults ages 13-34 (e.g. couples, siblings or friends) who have moved to Canada in the last 5 years. Estimated participation time is 6-8 hours over 3 months. Additionally, participants will be given $20 per person per session. If you are interested please contact us at project.intervention@ubc.ca
