ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, following the bulk of the literature on ‘youth disaffection’, we focused primarily on two ‘groups’: those young people who are absent from school through truancy or exclusion and those beyond school age who are not in education, employment or training. Most commentators appear to be agreed that in understanding youthful disaffection these two groups are of central importance. Nevertheless, it is also widely recognized that the ‘disaffected’ will also include some young people who, while apparently ‘engaged’ in education, training or work, display ‘disaffection’ or ‘disengagement’ in other ways – through, for example, criminal activity or problematic substance use. In addition to the fact that various forms of offending and substance use may of themselves be illustrative of youthful disaffection, there is now also considerable evidence that substance use and offending are linked with truancy, exclusion from school and unemployment. This chapter explores the existing literature on these links and then moves on to consider the changing nature of youth transitions. As we have already noted, there have been very significant changes to the nature of transitions to adult-hood over the past 20 years. In thinking about disaffection and, more particularly, intervening positively to reduce disaffection, understanding these transitions is vital. Finally, and anticipating much that we will have to say about those involved in the mentoring programmes later in the book, we examine the literature on the views of ‘disaffected young people’. That is, as a counterbalance to the lengthy consideration of the ‘objective indicators’ of disaffection that form the heart of this and the previous chapter, we conclude with a discussion of the ‘subjective’ experiences of disaffection.
