Population characteristics and sex-role patterns in a yough-run crisis center

A youth-run crisis/counseling center was studied by participant observation. The population was found to be predominatly white and young and equally divided between males and females. All social classes and both urban and suburban residents were present. The staff was significantly older, more educated, and of a higher social class than the nonstaff. Nonstaff included frequenters, mostly male, who hung around and were not counseled; counselees, mostly female, who were counseled at least twice; and drop-ins, whose contacts with the organization were brief. People who presented themselves as having a problem were almost always counseled. Males were counseled less than females because they rarely stated they had a problem. Females were more likely to be perceived as having a problem.This paper is based on the author's Master of Public Health research essay for the Yale University School of Medicine.The author has been a teacher, Peace Corps volunteer, and health planner and is presently enrolled in Yale's Doctor of Public Health program in Health Economics.