The 4-H Study on Positive Youth Development

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development Conducted by 4-H Youth Development Program Cooperative Extension Service North Carolina State University in cooperation with Tufts University, Medford, MA Funded by National 4-H Council

Including helping young people thrive! The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development The mission of North Carolina Cooperative Extension is to partner with communities to deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land, and economy of North Carolinians. Including helping young people thrive!

How do you know if a plant is thriving? The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development How do you know if a plant is thriving? New buds Green leaves Growing taller Looks Healthy

How do you know if a child is thriving? The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development How do you know if a child is thriving?

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development will help us answer that question.

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development Design of the Study This is a longitudinal study. Youth are surveyed annually for several years. Ideally, we will follow NC youth from 8th grade grade through high school. The national study began with 5th graders. Overall, more than 5,000 youth and 2,000 parents from 37 states are involved.

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development Design of the Study Over 100 North Carolina youth and their parents were surveyed in spring 2008. For comparative purposes, our sample included 4-H youth and non-4-H youth. Our goal is to re-survey these NC youth for at least two or three years.

The Student Questionnaire The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development The Student Questionnaire More than 300 questions Demographic questions - About the children, their household, the time they have lived in their neighborhood, etc. Future Goals and Expectations Activity Participation - School clubs, sports, lessons, after-school programs Relationships with parents, friends, other adults Involvement in positive behaviors Involvement in risk behaviors

The Basic Idea The Five Cs Competence Confidence Character Caring The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development The Basic Idea Positive Youth Development (PYD) is constituted by “Five Cs” that result in a 6th “C”—Contribution. The Five Cs Competence Confidence Character Caring Connection The Sixth C Contribution

Reduced Risk Behaviors The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development Confidence Character Caring Connection Competence Individual Assets Contribution PYD Reduced Risk Behaviors Contextual Assets

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development What do we hope to learn? How are NC youth doing in terms of the Five Cs (competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring) and the resulting, “6th C,” contributions to community? How can 4-H Youth Development programs help parents, schools, communities, and organizations promote PYD?

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development What has the national The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development learned so far?

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development Findings Youth may show increases or decreases in both positive development and risk - It is not that youth either engage in positive behavior or negative. They can engage in both behaviors. - Therefore, youth need both positive development promotion and risk/problem prevention.

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development [Youth participating in 2 or more waves are included] 27% 37% 13% 17% 6%

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development Gender as a context [Youth participating in 2 or more waves are included] Girls and boys tend to show different patterns in some important ways 4 Waves Girls vs. Boys High PYD: 76% vs. 60% High Contribution: 33% vs. 20% Low Risk Behaviors: 67% vs. 48% Low Depression: 70% vs. 78%

4-H Participation in 8th Grade: PYD and Contribution The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development [8th graders participating in 2 or more waves are included, N=994] 4-H Participation in 8th Grade: PYD and Contribution Average score for participants in the ideal trajectories [Participation is defined as twice a month or more]

4-H Participation in 8th Grade: Depression and Risk Behaviors The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development [8th graders participating in 2 or more waves are included, N=994] 4-H Participation in 8th Grade: Depression and Risk Behaviors Average score for participants in the ideal trajectories [Participation is defined as twice a month or more]

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development [8th graders participating in 2 or more waves are included, N=994] 4-H Participation in 8th Grade: Outcomes by Sex (% in ideal trajectories) None Other OST Other YD 4-H PYD Boys 63 62 70 64 Girls 66 81 77 78 Depression 80 79 74 88 56 72 Risk Beh 54 52 43 71 75 Contribution 17 13 34 33 16 32 46

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development Findings 4-H youth are more likely than youth in other structured after school activities (SASAs) to be in the high contribution trajectory group Youth in High Activity Contribution Trajectory 4-H 21% Other YDP, but not 4-H 14% Other SASAs 12%

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development Findings There are significant differences between girls and boys in 4-H Activity Girls Boys Overall 4-H 25% 14% 21% Other YDP, but not 4-H 15% 12% 14% Other SASAs 13% 10% 12% (% of each group in the high contribution trajectory; matched sample)

This study is important so that we can… The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development This study is important so that we can… Evaluate our 4-H programs to determine how effective we are in fostering the “5 C’s” and the “6th C – Contribution.” Use what we learn to improve, strengthen and enhance our 4-H programs.

This study is important so that we can… The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development This study is important so that we can… Share the information with other youth development programs so that they can strengthen, improve and enhance programs. Share the results parents, schools, and communities in order to promote PYD.

Help young people thrive! The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development This study is important so that we can… Help young people thrive!