The International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies has been a player in the on-line, open-access publishing scene for


The International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies has been a player in 
the on-line, open-access publishing scene for two full years now. As 2012 dawns, we 
continue our tradition of showcasing original scholarly works on a wide range of topics in 
the broad area of child, youth and family studies. The diversity of interests and topics and 
the interdisciplinarity of our contributors is a testament to the richness of this burgeoning 
field of study.  
 

With this volume, our international scope is more visible than ever with 
contributions from Finland, the United Kingdom, Iran, and Canada. The articles compiled 
for this volume include empirical investigations, theoretical contributions, practice 
accounts, and brief reports. Topics include: home/workplace balance in Finland, the 
“soccer casuals” youth culture in the U.K., depression and interpersonal relationships 
among youth in Tehran, community work based on social justice in Canada, new 
perspectives on addiction services for youth in British Columbia, and managing child 
care needs in a changing Canadian economy. 
 

One thing is clear in all these articles: The lives of children, youth, families, and 
communities can neither be adequately understood, nor ethically responded to, in the 
absence of a commitment to social justice that requires a deep understanding of the ways 
in which structural, political, economic, and historical forces actively shape the 
emergence of social problems among children, youth, and families. Despite the daunting 
challenges we all face, this volume offers much reason for hope. What a refreshing way 
to begin a new year!  
 

– Jennifer White and Sibylle Artz, Co-Editors