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Extracurricular participation and academic outcomes: testing the over-scheduling hypothesis
1Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320, USA. jfred@conncoll.edu
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|August 5, 2011
Summary
Extracurricular activities benefit youth academic performance, but excessive involvement may negatively impact adjustment. This study analyzed high school students to understand the effects of participation breadth and intensity.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Developmental Psychology
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Growing concern exists regarding youth over-scheduling in extracurricular activities.
- Potential negative consequences of extensive extracurricular involvement on youth functioning are debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the hypothesis that over-scheduling in extracurricular activities negatively impacts youth functioning.
- To examine the association between extracurricular participation breadth and intensity and academic outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Educational Longitudinal Study (ELS: 2002), a nationally representative sample of 13,130 American high school students.
- Analyzed the relationship between 10th-grade extracurricular participation (breadth and intensity) and 12th-grade academic indicators (math scores, grades, educational expectations).
- Assessed the impact on educational status two years post-high school and explored non-linear effects.
Main Results:
- Average 10th graders participated in 2-3 activities for 5 hours weekly; few participated at high levels.
- Controlling for covariates, extracurricular breadth and intensity positively correlated with math achievement, grades, and educational expectations.
- Higher levels of extracurricular participation showed a decline in academic adjustment, indicating a non-linear relationship.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a nuanced view of extracurricular involvement, challenging simple over-scheduling concerns.
- Moderate participation appears beneficial for academic achievement and expectations.
- Excessive involvement may lead to diminished academic adjustment, highlighting the importance of balance.
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