Related Experiment Videos
Activities, engagement, and emotion in after-school programs (and elsewhere).
Deborah Lowe Vandell1, David J Shernoff, Kim M Pierce
1University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
New Directions for Youth Development
|June 10, 2005
Summary
After-school programs foster engagement and positive development by providing enriching activities. These settings, rather than individual traits, are key to promoting motivation and enjoyment in youth.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Positive Youth Development
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Engaging experiences are crucial for child development, promoting concentration and a balance between challenge and skill.
- Identifying settings and activities that foster engagement is vital for positive youth development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify settings and activities that promote engagement in youth.
- To understand the role of after-school programs in fostering positive youth development.
Main Methods:
- A study of 191 ethnically diverse youth across three states, comparing participants and non-participants in after-school programs.
- Youth used logbooks and programmed watches to record location, social partners, activities, and feelings at random intervals.
Main Results:
- Youth reported higher motivation, engagement, and positive affect in after-school programs compared to other settings.
- Programs facilitated more time in academic enrichment, arts, organized sports, community service, and homework, with less time spent on eating and TV.
- Few differences in activities, emotions, or motivation were observed between program participants and non-participants when they were not in programs.
Conclusions:
- The program context significantly influences youth engagement and positive affect.
- After-school programs play a critical role in structuring youth experiences to promote development.
- Differences in engagement appear to stem from the program environment, not inherent youth characteristics.