Is extracurricular participation associated with beneficial outcomes? Concurrent and longitudinal relations.

Full Abstract

The authors examined the relations between participation in a range of high school extracurricular contexts and developmental outcomes in adolescence and young adulthood among an economically diverse sample of African American and European American youths. In general, when some prior self-selection factors were controlled, 11th graders' participation in school clubs and organized sports was associated with concurrent indicators of academic and psychological adjustment and with drug and alcohol use. In addition, participation in 11th grade school clubs and prosocial activities was associated with educational status and civic engagement at 1 year after high school. A few of the concurrent and longitudinal relations between activity participation and development were moderated by race and gender. Finally, breadth of participation, or number of activity contexts, was associated with positive academic, psychological, and behavioral outcomes.

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Author information

Author/s: Fredricks, Jennifer A (JA); Eccles, Jacquelynne S (JS);

Affiliation: Department of Human Development, Connecticut College, New London, 06320, USA. jfred(-atsign-)conncoll.edu

Grants: R01HD33437 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Developmental psychology (Dev Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 42 (issue 4) : pp 698-713

Dates: Created 2006/06/28; Completed 2006/12/04; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16802902, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent Psychology
Adult
African Continental Ancestry Group - psychology
Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Data Collection
Depression - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology
Educational Status
European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology
Hobbies
Humans
Internal-External Control
Leisure Activities
Longitudinal Studies
Marijuana Abuse - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology

Marijuana Abuse - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology
Maryland
Motivation
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Personality Assessment
Politics
Risk Factors
Self Concept
Sex Factors
Social Adjustment
Social Class
Social Environment
Social Identification
Socioeconomic Factors
Sports - psychology
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