1 Choice Project Context Analysis Report National
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CHOICE PROJECT CONTEXT ANALYSIS REPORT NATIONAL LEVEL COUNTRY: DENMARK This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein PROJECT TITLE: Empowerment practices for students’ CHOICE against Internet, drugs and gambling addiction Project number: 2016-1-PL01-KA201-026517 1 1. INTRODUCTION About Kastali’a Teaterskolen Kastali'a (The School of Theatre Kastali'a) is an association that offers theatre classes every weekday for local kids and youngsters. The association has 130 members in the ages between 8 and 23 years old. Kastali'a is a local player in local and regional culture and art projects and has existed for 11 years. In Kastali'a we are bringing youngsters of many different profiles together. Our members are a mix of youngsters with fewer opportunities, youngsters with social and personal challenges (some with diagnoses as ADHD, Tourette, OCD) and resourceful youngsters. We work with performances and projects in the public space and the youngsters learn to be active, relate and reflect, and to take action in their local community according to their own authenticity. Through the creative work - the youngsters are being empowered with strong social competences, personal development and more self-esteem to improve their employability. The situation in DK Using drugs is typically a youth phenomenon in Denmark. Mostly the use of drugs ends when youths enter adulthood. Studies show that the experimental use of drugs peaks in the age of 16-19 and very few try drugs for the first time in their twenties. Since 2000 there has been a drop in the use of illegal drugs, except from hash. Since 2010 the use of hash has increased. Amphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy are the most common drugs after hash. Among young adults under 25 years 42% have tried to smoke hash, 9% have tried other illegal drugs. Compared with 2000 the latest studies show that the prevalence of illegal drugs has been reduced, except from hash. While 8% of young adults under 25 years in 2000 claimed to use illegal drugs, it was only 4% in 2013. Results from a study in 2015 among young adults between 15-16 years old show a continued positive drop in the experimental use of illegal drugs – including a significant drop in the use of hash. 12% of the young adults in this group claim they have tried cannabis. In 2011 this was 18%. In Denmark the general aim is to improve the preventive effort by giving young adults better opportunities for help, support and guidance without having to be afraid of the consequences. This has to be done by establishing new initiatives on a national level as well as local. A Danish study shows that 38% of young adults believe they have a dependency relationship with information and communication technologies such as internet, smartphones and tablets. The survey describes how young adults experience withdrawal symptoms if they do not have access to technologies. In the recent years there has been an increased focus on young adults’ addiction to the virtual social world and the consequences of this development in Denmark. However, researchers agree that there is still a lack of specific research in this field and methods to prevent the excessive “unhealthy” use of technology. In Denmark there is currently a particular focus on the problematic development of digital harassment, such as bullying and ”porn revenge” where images of naked youths are unwillingly posted on social medias. Denmark is one of the countries with the highest percent of the use of technology, internet and social media. PROJECT TITLE: Empowerment practices for students’ CHOICE against Internet, drugs and gambling addiction Project number: 2016-1-PL01-KA201-026517 2 From very early ages children have their own smartphones, tablets, etc. and they bring them to school, kindergartens, etc. Researchers find it problematic that the digital world has such a great impact on the outlook on life of children and young adults. In particular the social medias has a manipulating effect on the users view on reality. A Norwegian study from 2011 shows that 56,3% of 2500 randomly selected young adults spends time on computer games on a daily basis. In this group 4,1% has a problematic addiction to gaming which results in negative consequences such as impaired school attendance, social isolation, conflicting relationship with parents, sleeping disturbances and reduced mental well-being. In the recent years social services in Denmark have received an increased amount of requests from worried parents searching for support to control their children’s problematic use of computer games. Also in this field the Danish authorities are searching for successful methods to prevent the negative consequences of young adults’ addictive behaviour. 25% of Danish pathological gamblers are under 25 years. 43% of all gamblers have considered suicide. Relevant links; Søren Hebsgaard (Thesis on young adults’ use of mobile phones) http://docplayer.dk/62027-Naar-du-har-hele-verden-i-din-lomme-smartphonens-betydning-for-unges- opmaerksomhed-koncentration-og-stress.html Centre for digital pedagogical studies http://cfdp.dk/ Advisory centre for children and young adults https://talmedboern.dk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Tweens-mellem-spil-og-sociale-medier.pdf Danish centre for gambling addiction http://ludomani.dk/fagperson/forebyggelseforskning The drug situation in DK https://www.sst.dk/da/udgivelser/2016/narkotikasituationen-i-danmark-2016 PROJECT TITLE: Empowerment practices for students’ CHOICE against Internet, drugs and gambling addiction Project number: 2016-1-PL01-KA201-026517 3 2. QUESTIONNAIRE STUDIES 2.1. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT STUDIES a) Information about tested students Amount: 40 students Age: 15-16 Sex: 16 males/24 females b) The method of survey: Selection of schools: Randers Real Skole was selected because it is the biggest private school in Randers. It is located in the city centre of Randers (61.000 inhabitants) and has students from all over the municipality. Assentoftskolen was selected because it is the largest public primary school in our municipality. The school is located in a smaller village in the countryside in the southern part of the municipality of Randers (3500 inhabitants). The students are from Assentoft and the surrounding small villages. The municipality of Randers has 97.500 inhabitants in total. We chose the two schools because we wanted a variety in public and private schools, and geographically students from the city centre and the countryside. At both schools students in the 9th grade participated in the survey – in this way we would have the same age group in order to compare the results. c) The general conclusions after survey In general the students found the questionnaire easy to access, and it was easy for them to understand and answer the questions. Some found the case studies easy. Others found them difficult because they couldn't relate themselves to the described situations. At some of the questions they were missing the opportunity to have more than one answer opportunity or the opportunity to elaborate on their answers. Some of them believed the questions about sloth machines and casinos were not relevant, as they have not been to these places. Online games would more be their reality. The students complained about the questions on drugs: if you have answered NO in the first question - that you have NEVER used drugs, then they found it hard to continue to answer questions of their relationship to drugs, and how drugs has effected their lives, such as question no. 37. Have you felt internal concern(s), fear(s) depressed mood or you have been annoyed if you tried to limit or stop the use of drugs/intoxicants? PROJECT TITLE: Empowerment practices for students’ CHOICE against Internet, drugs and gambling addiction Project number: 2016-1-PL01-KA201-026517 4 - Many of the students have answered NO to this question, but because they had never used drugs - and not because they have answered the real question about if they have ever felt internal concerns - as they were not drug consumers they couldn't answer it properly. - They would have preferred an option where you could jump to other drug related questions - if you had answered NO to question no 28. Have you ever used drugs/intoxicants? 2.2. STATISTICAL DATA - RESULTS OF ONLINE SURVEY MANAGING EMOTIONS Question 1: I can distinguish and name … Indicators: 1= less than 5 emotions, 22 = 5-10 emotions, 8 = 10-15 emotions, 9 = more than 15 emotions The majority of the students named the 3 emotions: sad, happy and angry. A few added more, such as fearful, jealous, envious, shy, lonely, depressed, in love, worried and hopeful. Question 2: I find it difficult to explain my friends how I feel Indicators: 3 = yes, 9 = rather yes, 9 = rather no, 15 = no, 4 = don’t know Question 3: When I am upset about something, I often keep it to myself Indicators: 7 = yes, 11 = rather yes, 9 = rather no, 11 = no, 2 = don’t know When I am upset about something, Yes I often keep it to myself Rather yes Rather no No Don't know Question 4: I never know exactly what kind of feelings I am having Indicators: 2 = yes, 8 = rather yes, 15 = rather no, 13 = no, 2 = don’t know Question 5: My body feels different when I am upset about something Indicators: 10 = yes, 11 = rather yes, 4 = rather no, 11 = no, 4 = don’t know PROJECT TITLE: Empowerment practices for students’ CHOICE against Internet, drugs and gambling addiction Project number: