Concept analysis of youth: understanding the plurality of subjects

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the concept of “youth.” Methods: This is a concept analysis guided by the method proposed by Walker and Avant, operationalized through an integrative literature review. The search in scientific databases was carried out using the descriptors: youth; young; adolescence. To compose the literary corpus, 22 studies were selected. Results: Various factors were found in the antecedents that influence the separation of youth groups, contributing to the heterogenization of this population. The attributes include characteristics that comprise the formation of youth groups, especially the idea of shared experiences and social construction, as well as the consequences of the mentioned concept. After systematizing the variables, the analysis was conducted, highlighting the conceptions that influence youth. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the multifactorial complexity of the formulation of the concept of youth, highlighting various factors that contribute to this construction. For nursing, this conceptual field allows for an understanding of the population and effective engagement with this group.