scholarly journals Extracurricular activities, Positive Parenting and Personal Positive Youth Development. Differential relations amongst age and academic pathways.

Author(s):  
Álvaro J. Balaguer Estaña ◽  
Santos Orejudo Hernández ◽  
César Rodríguez Ledo ◽  
María Jesús Cardoso Moreno

Introduction.  Positive parenting and Extracurricular Activities are contextual assets for enhancing Personal Positive Youth Development. However, these assets have not been studied simultaneously or in students of different ages. This paper analyzed these associations, by testing a mediator model in students with different academic trajectories. Method.  The sample was composed by 1.402 adolescents, aged between 12 and 20 years (Mean=14.40; SD=1.910; males=49%). Students completed various questionnaires regarding the personal constructs of Optimism, Hope, General Self-efficacy and Sense of Coherence, as well as questionnaires that address perceptions of Parental Style and Extracurricular Activities. A random sampling was carried out by schools in Aragon (Spain) that offered the degrees carried out by adolescents. Results.  Structural equation modeling showed that Positive Parenting was associated with the accomplishment of Extracurricular Activities and personality constructs. Further, participation in activities was associated with the same pattern of personality traits (Expectancies, Self, and Sense of Coherence). These results were found mainly in younger students (12-15 years old), while in older students (16-20 years old) this effect was found only for those with a profile of less successful academic pathways. Discussion and Conclusion.  Relationships with family are the essential asset for adolescents, especially to promote Personal Positive Youth Development, but also for the engagement in Extracurricular Activities. Implications for developmental psychologists, practitioners and educators are discussed, especially underscoring the importance of offering extracurricular opportunities.

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andria B. Eisman ◽  
Sarah A. Stoddard ◽  
José A. Bauermeister ◽  
Cleopatra H. Caldwell ◽  
Marc A. Zimmerman

Relational aggression among early adolescents is a pervasive problem that negatively influences the health and well-being of youth. Strength-based approaches such as positive youth development (PYD) are a promising way to reduce risk of detrimental outcomes such as relational aggression. Participation in organized activities is a key way that youth build assets related to PYD. Yet, few researchers have examined empirically assets related to PYD as a mechanism by which organized activity participation may help reduce risk of relational aggression. In this study, we used structural equation modeling to investigate if assets associated with PYD mediate the relationship between organized activity participation and relational aggression using survey data from a diverse, school-based sample of early adolescents (N = 196; mean age = 12.39 years; SD = 0.52; 60% female; 45% African American, 27% White, 21% multiracial, and 7% other, 71% economically disadvantaged). We tested 2 competing models, 1 with decomposed PYD factors and 1 with an integrated PYD factor. Our results suggest that PYD better fit as an integrated versus decomposed construct, providing support for the notion that youth benefit most from assets related to PYD when they operate collectively. Our results also provide support for PYD-related factors as a mechanism by which participation may reduce risk of relational aggression. Limitations of this study, and implications for prevention are discussed.


2020 ◽  
pp. 027243162093119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio D’Urso ◽  
Jennifer Symonds ◽  
Ugo Pace

In the current study, we investigated the developmental dynamics between positive youth development, being bullied in adolescence, gender, and sociocultural risk factors. Participants were 3,509 males (49%) and 3,656 females (51%) studied longitudinally across the ages of 9, 13, and 17 years in the Growing Up in Ireland study. Using structural equation modeling, we discovered that being bullied in early adolescence was most strongly predicted by having fewer close friends, higher family poverty, and living in neighborhoods with higher levels of disorder. However, the social disadvantage of a young person’s school did not impact being bullied. More positive reports of connection and caring in early adolescence were negatively predicted by neighborhood disorder and family poverty, and being female had positive association with relationships with teachers. Developing confidence, competence, and character in late adolescence was notably related to having fewer experiences of family trauma and transitions in childhood and to having higher levels of rapport with parents in early adolescence. The results highlight the importance of studying relationships and psychological development in sociocultural context.


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402110321
Author(s):  
Thuy Thu Nguyen ◽  
Linh Thi Phuong Nguyen ◽  
Hoa Thi Thanh Phan ◽  
Anh Trong Vu

This empirical study proposed a comprehensive model testing the direct and indirect impacts of entrepreneurship extracurricular activities and entrepreneurship inspiration on students’ entrepreneurial intention. With the sample consisting of 640 students from 11 universities in Vietnam, the study used structural equation modeling analysis approach. The results revealed that entrepreneurship extracurricular activities and entrepreneurship inspiration are significantly related to students’ entrepreneurial intention, and entrepreneurship self-efficacy partially mediates these relations. The impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention differs across the field of study. Technical students generally get more benefits from entrepreneurship educational activities than business and economics students do. The research findings recommended some implications for fostering graduates’ entrepreneurship in emerging countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Dian Ratna Sawitri

Career exploration reflects activities conducted to collect information about oneself and potential occupations to become self-aware and understand the job market. Career exploration guides the realization of career aspirations and is thus crucial for young adults. It helps the youth make appropriate career-relevant decisions. However, it is unknown whether career aspirations mediate the links between positive parenting and career exploration activities undertaken by urban third-year undergraduate students. This study aimed to bridge this gap in the literature, and to this end, a survey was administered to 125 third-year undergraduate students attending a state university in Semarang, Central Java. The Career Exploration Scale, Career Aspirations Scale, Positive Parenting Subscale, and questions on demographic characteristics were employed for data collection. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that career aspirations fully mediated the path between positive parenting and career exploration. The findings of this study underline the importance of career aspirations in translating the effects of positive parenting into specific career exploration activities undertaken by college students. Finally, suggestions based on the study results are offered for third-year undergraduate students, parents, and practitioners.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S177-S178
Author(s):  
S. Von Humboldt ◽  
I. Leal

IntroductionIncreasing longevity brings challenges for older adults’ satisfaction with life (SWL).AimsThis study aims at exploring a structural model of predictors of SWL in a cross-national sample of older adults.MethodsA community-dwelling sample of 1234 older adults was assessed regarding SWL, sense of coherence (SOC) and socio-demographic, lifestyle and health-related characteristics. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate a structural model of the self-reported SWL, comprising SOC, socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, education, marital and professional status, household, adult children, income, living setting and religion), lifestyle and health-related characteristics (physical activity, recent disease and medication).ResultsSignificant predictors are SOC (β = .733; P < .001), religion (β = .725; P < .001), income (β = .551; P < .001), adult children (β = .546; P < .001), education (β = –.403; P < .001), living setting (β = –.292; P < .001) and medication (β = –.197; P < .001). The variables accounted for 24.8% of the variability of SWL. Moreover, differences between the four nationality groups (F(3, 671) = 3.671, P = .066) were not found concerning SWL.ConclusionsSense of coherence is the strongest predictor of self-reported SWL. Other predictors are religion, income, adult children, education, living setting and medication. The four nationalities did not present significant differences, concerning SWL. This study highlights the factors that influence older adults’ SWL, namely, SOC, religion and income, as promoters of aging well, within a salutogenic model of health for older populations.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1113-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Il Kim ◽  
Sung Joon Jang ◽  
Byron R. Johnson

Using data from a nationally representative sample of American adult males ( N = 2,512), this study examines (a) whether duration of membership in the Boy Scouts of America is associated with adult civic engagement and (b) whether five characteristics of positive youth development (confidence, competence, connection, character, and caring) account for the relationship between duration of Scouting membership and adult civic engagement. The results from structural equation modeling indicate that duration of participation in Scouting is positively associated with four indicators of civic engagement: community involvement, community volunteering, community activism, and environmental activism. Among the five positive characteristics, confidence and competence were found to fully mediate the effects of Scouting on all four types of civic engagement, whereas the other three only to partly mediate the effects.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Christina Squires

Using multi-method multi-informant longitudinal data from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project (N equals 966), this study explored the effects of early-life (between 0 to 36 months) environmental unpredictability and environmental harshness on preschoolers' cognitive, behavioral, and emotional self-regulation directly and indirectly through positive parenting at 36 months. Environmental unpredictability included number of maternal employment and marital transitions and residential mobility. Environmental harshness included average income-to-needs ratios, poverty status, and receipt of public assistance. Positive parenting practices included maternal warmth, supportiveness, and cognitive stimulation. Structural equation modeling revealed that early-life environmental unpredictability and environmental harshness make independent and unique contributions to preschoolers' self-regulation. Findings also suggest that the effects of environmental unpredictability, environmental harshness, and parenting practices on children's selfregulation are domain specific and do not operate equally across all children. Environmental unpredictability was directly and negatively associated with preschoolers' emotion regulation, while environmental harshness was indirectly and negatively associated with preschoolers' attention regulation through positive parenting. These associations were only significant for boys, suggesting that boys may be more susceptible to the influence of harsh and unpredictable environments early in life. Keywords: Self-regulation, Infancy, Early childhood, Environmental unpredictability, Environmental harshness


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Mayumi Oie

This paper examined how the interdisciplinary field of volunteer motivation and creativity research helps improve our understanding of social issues. This research focused on the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred on March 11, 2011, and discussed how volunteer motivations support volunteer activities, positive youth development and citizenship from the perspective of sociocultural and self-determination theories Next, volunteerism based on prosocial behaviors was explored, such as improvement of victims’ lives after the disaster. Despite the positive effect of volunteer activities on lifespan youth development, volunteer assistance within the stricken area has gradually declined during the past year compared to the period immediately after the disaster, when there were a substantial number of volunteers. To sustain volunteer motivation for longer periods, interdisciplinary studies within the areas of psychology and leisure are necessary. This research outlined three important interdisciplinary concepts, which are necessary to recover from the disaster: identity formation, collaborative creativity, and community citizenship. Volunteering as extracurricular activities for undergraduate and prospective teachers can strengthen their own and students’ rich and deep life course in future.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document