Overt and Covert Youth Problems: A Qualitative Study of Specialists' Experiences in Qatar's Youth Sectors

Abstract

Qatar has established several institutions dedicated to youth education, employment, and care. This study aims to identify and address youth problems from the perspective of specialists in these institutions. The study adopts a qualitative, phenomenological design. Data was collected through asynchronous interviews from a sample of 54 specialists, and a questionnaire with open questions was used on a purposive sample. The data was analyzed thematically by MAXQDA. The study revealed two levels of problems affecting youth. The first level pertains to frequently encountered issues like addiction, sexual problems, and communication difficulties. The second level involves less common issues, but their impact is profound. These problems are associated with a significant percentage of young people exhibiting negative personality traits, fostering imitation, materialism, luxuryy, and exessive comfort. The constant influx of media influences contributes to mental distraction, lack of focus, and value dissonance, potentially leading to negative behaviors and psychological disorders. In addition, Western influences continually impact young people in universities, workplaces, and the media, which weakens their confidence in society and culture and may decrease religious scruples, leading to negative behaviors and psychological distress. The study emphasizes the importance of proactively addressing personality trait issues in young people to prevent more severe problems from arising.