Hello Kevin,

This is a ResearchGate project that might be of interest:

https://www.researchgate.net/project/Social-Ethology-and-Child-Development

This is recent, but I have not seen the full text:

Wyn, J. (2015). A Critical Perspective on Young People and Belonging. Chapter · January 2015 In: Handbuch Kindheits- und Jugendsoziologie, pp.1-14

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/302466663_A_Critical_Perspective_on_Young_People_and_Belonging 

This link may be of interest:

Davies H. (2013) A sociological perspective on youth

http://socialtheoryapplied.com/2013/05/17/a-sociological-perspective-on-youth/

This relates to the subculture of music:

Epstein, J. S. (Ed.). (2016). Adolescents and their music: If it's too loud, you're too old. Routledge.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=YEX7CwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=sociological+perspectives+on+childhood+and+youth+subcultures+or+values+of+the+youth&ots=nLjC3B4C0B&sig=zcgwH_f4eb0UEe4KuOTbAcH5ymc#v=onepage&q=sociological%20perspectives%20on%20childhood%20and%20youth%20subcultures%20or%20values%20of%20the%20youth&f=false

This relates to adventure sports:

Gilchrist, P., & Wheaton, B. (2016). LIFESTYLE AND ADVENTURE SPORTS AMONG YOUTH.

http://www.academia.edu/26143047/Lifestyle_and_adventure_sport_among_youth

And this to other youth culture:

Buckingham, D., Bragg, S., & Kehily, M. (2015). Rethinking youth cultures in the age of global media: a perspective from British youth studies. Diskurs Jugend-Und Kindheitsforschung, 10(3), 265-277.

http://eprints.brighton.ac.uk/13858/1/01_revised%20ms_Rethinking%20youth%20cultures_3%20(1).pdf

I hope these are of some relevance for what you need.

Very best wishes,

Mary

Chapter A Critical Perspective on Young People and Belonging

May I suggest that you look a at existing theories on youth in sociology and psychology  before trying to find new theories?  Prior to sociological studies or theories of youth, there is/was psychology.  In this field there was/is development first, with focus on the individual.  This should lead you to theories of youth and sociology in the factors which interest you.

I say this based on my own work on "adolescent pregnancy."   The stage of development know as 'youth" (which I assume to be otherwise know as adolescence-- not childhood and not adulthood) is /was new in development that arose with industrialization.  This requires a long explanation (and I  have resources if you'd like).  Before that, children moved from childhood to adulthood (work, marriage, family,  etc.  stating as early as ages 16-17) and thus, "youth" as is known today (with all its factors, issues, problems and studies) , did not really exist. Keep in mind also, that there are important cultural differences in "youth".  And you have to start with a definition of the group you are interested in studying, ages 12 to 20? 16 to 22? 13-21 etc.

If you take a look at the list of our publications on Researchgate you will see that we have written a significant amount on young people - one of our key areas is agency and identity - for example these two 2015 articles - we include literature that may be of interest to you.

“Negotiating and constructing identity: Social work with young people who

experience adversity”. Munford, R. & Sanders, J. British Journal of Social Work, 45 (5): 1564-1580.

 “Young people’s search for agency: Making sense of their experiences and taking

control”. Munford, R. & Sanders, J. Qualitative Social Work, 14 (5): 616-633.

I deeply appreciate your answers and suggestions. I'm trying to read what are your articles about. 

I have a specific questionfor Mary-Helen: In your opinion, what are the existing theories on youth in sociology? Furthermore, where can I find for myself this information on the web?

Given that English is not my native language, I don't know too many academic searcher (in English and free) on the web.

Thank you very much, again!!! 

Kevin, here are two sources but they will lead you to many other sources:

http://socialtheoryapplied.com/2013/05/17/a-sociological-perspective-on-youth/

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/202287/Youth-Symposium-TheoriesAndConceptsInYouthStudies.pdf

If you have other questions or would like other resources, I will dig into my own library.

MHC

Mary-Helen, I really appreciate your help. Thank you!