Study
Background
In the summer of 2005, the state of Minnesota participated in the
first ever national longitudinal study on 4-H positive youth development.
This six year study, conducted by researchers at Tufts University
and Boston College and funded by the National 4-H Council, is aimed
at assessing across the early years of adolescence the key characteristics
of healthy, positive youth development. Building on a strong theoretical
base, the researchers define these characteristics by what they
term the “5 C’s”—competence, confidence,
character, connection, and caring (or compassion)—which is
believed to ultimately lead to the 6th C, contribution. The research
evaluates the impact on positive youth development of key ecological
assets—families, communities and, in particular, community-based
programs for youth.
After a year of pilot research that enabled the measures of the
research and the procedures for data collection to be developed
successfully, the project launched the first wave of longitudinal
data collection in November, 2002. About two thousand fifth graders,
sampled from schools in more than 15 states from across the nation
are now participating in the third year of data collection. The
sample varies in racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, family, rural-urban
location and geographic region characteristics.
All participants are assessed using indicators of both positive
behaviors and problem behaviors (e.g., relating to substance use
and abuse, school underachievement, and delinquency). The contextual
strengths/assets of participants' families and communities are appraised
as well. The key idea guiding this research is when the assets of
young people and their contexts are integrated across adolescence,
young people will thrive.
Results from the first wave of data collection provide the first
empirical evidence to date of the five Cs and thus of PYD. In addition,
we have found that 4-H youth independent of (that is, over and above)
their participation in 4-H community activities – have significantly
higher scores for community contribution than do youth involved
in other youth development programs.
Moreover, the community contributions of youth involved in these
4-H programs increases in relation to their duration of 4-H program
participation and, in turn, frequency of community participation
is significantly predicted by 4-H program participation.
These results suggest that participation in the community youth
development programs of 4-H is a key developmental asset promoting
young people's community contributions and that the core features
of the 4-H community youth development programming model –
adult role models and mentors, youth participation and leadership,
and life skills development – may be fundamental contributors
to the way in which 4-H promotes PYD. This interpretation will be
evaluated further as the additional waves of data to be collected
in the 4-H Study of PYD are gathered and analyzed.
We here at the Center for 4-H Youth Development are excited about
the study’s potential to strengthen our work both nationally
and more close to home. We look forward exploring the national and
local reports with you as they become available. Stay tuned!
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The
Goals of the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development:
- To build
a conceptual model of positive youth development
- To develop
measures to assess factors of positive youth development
- To identify
factors that contribute to positive youth development
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Some
of the Early Findings:
Comparison between Minnesota 4-H participants and national
averages (2004 - 2005):
Report Cover
Letter
Report for 2004
- 2005
General
early findings based on national sample:
- Girls
score on: Competence, Connection, Character and Caring were higher
than those of boys
- European
American and Latino youth reported greater confidence
- Household
income was positive related to: Competence, Confidence, Connection
and Character
- Girls'
scores are higher on: Contribution
- Race/ethnicity
was not related to Contribution
- Family
income was negatively related to Contribution
- PYD
is significantly related to Contribution
- Of
the individual Cs: Character and Competence most strongly
predict Contribution
- 4-H
Program Participation is not significantly related to higher PYD
scores
- 4-H
Program Participation does, however, contribute significantly
to higher Contribution scores
- Similarly,
youth who have received Health Rocks! do not show higher
PYD scores
- However,
incidence of smoking is less
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Summary
of Findings (National Sample)
- The
positive vision and vocabulary of youth practitioners and developmental
researchers has been validated and can be empirically studied
- 4-H,
even in very young youth, is having a positive impact on youth
contribution to self, family and community
- Health
Rocks! is associated with a low incidence of youth smoking
Links
for More Information on the Study
• The study’s
website
• Publications
based on the 4-H PYD Study
• The
abstract for the first article published in a scholarly journal
about the study
• Article
from Journal of Youth Development
• Research
Chat with study’s Scientific Director, Jacqueline Lerner
• Newsweek
article (April 25, 2005 issue) highlighting early findings from
the study
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