Staff Member Biography
Robert Young
position: Investigator Scientistprogramme: Children, Young People, Families and HealthContact Details
phone: 0141 357 3949 (switchboard)
Address
4 Lilybank Gardens
Glasgow G12 8RZ
Biography and Interests
Starting as a mature student, Robert graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology from Glasgow Caledonian University in 1996, then continuing with a further year of study to complete a post-graduate in Computer Studies. His first research post was at Charing Cross Medical School and Imperial College London in 1998, where he worked in an outpatient psychiatric clinic conducting research with transsexual patients at the National Gender Identity Clinic.
In 2000 he returned to Glasgow to join the MRC Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, Youth and Health Programme, initially involved in analysis of final wave data from the ‘West of Scotland 11 to 16 study'. Since then, Robert has been involved in the design and data collection of several other studies, notably the continuation of 11 to 16 into the post-school period (16+ study), the ‘Teenage Health in School' (THiS) study and, most recently, the computerised psychiatric component of the ‘Peers and Levels of Stress' (PaLS) study.
He retains an interest in gender related research as applied to youth and psychological health. He has a particular interest in research involving longitudinal methods and using advanced or novel methodology such as sociometry and structural equation modelling. His research focus is on the social patterning of young people's mental health, typically contrasting traditional class vs. newer consumer and cultural influences. Recent and ongoing research has focused on the prevalence of self-harm in young people and its relation to youth subculture, peer group and lifestyle, with a particular interest in ‘Goths'.
Siren (Suicide Information Research and Evidence Network)
July 2007 issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry podcast on 'Young people who self-harm'.
Additional Details & Conference Presentations
Publications
2013
Young R, Macdonald L, Ellaway A. Associations between proximity and density of local alcohol outlets and alcohol use among Scottish adolescents. Health & Place 2013;19:124-130
open access2012
Karvonen S, Young R, West P, Rahkonen O. Value orientations among late modern youth: a cross-cultural study. Journal of Youth Studies 2012;15:33-52
Kelly T, McCafferty E, Metcalfe J, Petrie G, van Beinum M, Young R. Evaluating the Glasgow adolescent self-harm service: a seven-year retrospective investigation: Executive Summary. Scottish Executive Health Department, Chief Scientist's Office , Edinburgh, 2012
open accessMarkham W, Young R, Sweeting H, West P, Aveyard P. Are the relationships between value-added education and teenage substance use explained by school-level and pupil-level school ethos indicators? A cohort study. Social Science & Medicine 2012;75:69-76
pubmed open accessMarkham W, Young R, Sweeting H, West P, Aveyard P. Does school ethos explain the relationship between value-added education and teenage substance use? A cohort study. Social Science & Medicine 2012;75:69-76
pubmed open accessYoung R, Sweeting H, West P. Associations between DSM-IV diagnosis, psychiatric symptoms and morning cortisol levels in a community sample of adolescents. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 2012;47:723-733
pubmed open accessYoung R, van Beinum M. An assertive outreach intervention does not reduce repeat suicide attempts compared to usual care [commentary]. Evidence Based Mental Health 2012
Young R. Can Neds (or Chavs) be non-delinquent, educated or even middle class? Contrasting empirical findings with cultural stereotypes. Sociology 2012;46:1140-1160
2011
Hunt K, Sweeting H, Sargent J, Lewars H, Young R, West P. Is there an association between seeing incidents of alcohol or drug use in films and young Scottish adults' own alcohol or drug use? A cross sectional study. BMC Public Health 2011;11:259
pubmed open accessMcArdle P, Young R, Quibell T, Moseley M, Johnson R, Le Couteur A. Early intervention for at risk children: three year follow up. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2011;20:111-20
pubmedSweeting H, West P, Young R, Kelly S. Dimensions of adolescent subjective social status within the school community: description and correlates. Journal of Adolescence 2011;34:493-504
pubmed open accessYoung R, Lennie S, Minnis H. Children’s perceptions of parental emotional neglect and psychopathology . Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2011;52:889-97
pubmed open accessYoung R, McCafferty E, Metcalfe J, van Beinum MA. Evaluating the Glasgow adolescent self-harm service: a seven-year retrospective investigation: Final Report. Glasgow, 2011
Young R, McDonald-Smith L. Lisbeth Salander and the ‘Truth’ about Goths. In: Rosenberg R, editor The psychology of the girl with the dragon tattoo. Dallas: Benbella Books, 2011:9-29.
Young R, Riordan V, Stark C. Perinatal and psychosocial circumstances and risk of attempted suicide, non-suicidal self-injury and psychiatric services use: a longitudinal study of young people. BMC Public Health 2011;11:875
pubmed open accessYoung R, Sweeting H, Ellaway A. Do schools differ in suicide risk? The influence of school and neighbourhood on attempted suicide, suicidal ideation and self-harm among secondary school pupils. BMC Public Health 2011;11:874
pubmed open access2010
Sweeting H, West P, Young R, Der G. Can we explain increases in young people's psychological distress over time?. Social Science & Medicine 2010;71:1819-30
pubmed open accessWest P, Sweeting H, Young R, Kelly S. The relative importance of family socioeconomic status and school-based peer hierachies for morning cortisol in youth: an exploratory study. Social Science & Medicine 2010;79:1246-53
pubmed open accessWest P, Sweeting H, Young R. Transition matters: pupils' experiences of the primary-secondary school transition in the West of Scotland and consequences for well-being and attainment. Research Papers in Education 2010;25:21-50
open accessYoung R, West P. Do good values lead to good health-behaviours?: longitudinal associations between young people's values and later substance-use. BMC Public Health 2010;10:165
pubmed open accessYoung R. Trauma, attempted suicide and morning cortisol in a community sample of adolescents. Journal of Traumatic Stress 2010;23:288–291
open access2009
Dorrer N, West P, Young R, Sweeting H. Exploring the relationship between peer crowd, popularity and health in a Scottish secondary school: a qualitative study. MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit Working Paper no. 25 , Glasgow, 2009
Sweeting H, Young R, West P. GHQ increases among Scottish 15 year olds 1987-2006. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 2009;44:579-86
pubmed open access2008
Kelly S, Young R, Sweeting H, Fischer J, West P. Levels and confounders of morning cortisol collected from adolescents in a naturalistic (school) setting. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2008;33:1257-68
pubmedSweeting H, West P, Young R. Obesity among Scottish 15 year olds 1987-2006: prevalence and associations with socio-economic status, well-being and worries about weight. BMC Public Health 2008;8:404
pubmed open accessSweeting H, Young R, West P. The Peers and Levels of Stress ('PaLS') Study: basic frequencies and documentation. MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit Working Paper no. 17 , Glasgow, 2008
Young R, Sweeting H, West P. A longitudinal study of alcohol use and antisocial behaviour in young people . Alcohol and Alcoholism 2008;43:204-14
pubmed open access2007
West P, Sweeting H, Young R. Smoking in Scottish youths: personal income, parental social class and the cost of smoking. Tobacco Control 2007;16:329-335
pubmed open accessYoung R, van Beinum M, Sweeting H, West P. Young people who self-harm. British Journal of Psychiatry 2007;191:44-49
pubmedYoung R. author reply 458-9. Comment on:Kripalani M, Badanapuram R, Gash A, Morris S. Br J Psychiatry. 2007 Jul;191:44-9., Factors in those who repeatedly self-harm. British Journal of Psychiatry 2007;191:458
Young R. Young people and self-harm 2007 [podcast]. Raj Persaud talks to series 2007
2006
Pearson M, Sweeting H, West P, Young R, Gordon J, Turner J. Adolescent substance use in different social and peer contexts: a social network analysis. Drugs, Education, Prevention and Policy 2006;13:519-536
Sweeting H, Young R, West P, Der G. Peer victimization and depression in early-mid adolescence: A longitudinal study. British Journal of Educational Psychology 2006;76:577-594
pubmedSweeting H, Young R. Social class in the West of Scotland 11 to 16 study: measurement, derivation and decisions about use of the social class variables. MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit Working Paper no. 15 , Glasgow, 2006
Turner K, West P, Young R, Gordon J, Sweeting H. Could the peer group explain school differences in pupil smoking rates?. Social Science & Medicine 2006;62:2513-2525
pubmedWest P, Sweeting H, Young R, Robins M. A material paradox: socioeconomic status, young people's disposable income and consumer culture. Journal of Youth Studies 2006;9:437-462
Wilson P, Carr S, Young R, Fleming P, Spiers A, McConnachie A. The Scottish Transgender Survey: final report - NHS Inclusion Project, Beyond Barriers. Glasgow, 2006
Young R, Sweeting H, West P. Prevalence of deliberate self harm and attempted suicide within contemporary Goth youth subculture: longitudinal cohort study. British Medical Journal 2006;332:1058-1061
pubmed open accessYoung R, Sweeting H, West P. Self harm in Goth youth subculture: authors' reply. British Medical Journal 2006;332:1335
pubmed2005
Sweeting H, Adam K, Young R, West P. The West of Scotland 16+ Study: Basic frequencies and documentation. MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit Working Paper no. 14 , Glasgow, 2005
2004
Turner K, Gordon J, Young R. Cigarette access and pupil smoking rates: a circular relationship. Health Promotion International 2004;19:428-436
pubmed open accessYoung R, Sweeting H. Adolescent bullying, relationships, mental health and gender atypical behaviour: a gender diagnosticity approach. Sex Roles 2004;50:525-537
2001
Karvonen S, West P, Sweeting H, Rahkonen O, Young R. Lifestyle, social class and health related behaviours: a cross cultural comparison of 15 year olds in Glasgow and Helsinki. Journal of Youth Studies 2001;4:393-413
Young R, Sweeting H, West P. Temporal and cross-cultural stability of adolescent leisure. MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit Working Paper no. 6 , Glasgow, 2001
2000
Young R, Sweeting H, West P. The West of Scotland 11 to 16 Study: Basic frequencies of the 15 year old (S4) sweep. MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit Working Paper no. 2 , Glasgow, 2000
