Exploring Purpose as a Resource for Promoting Youth Program Engagement

Journal of Youth Development

Nicolette Rainone¹  Anthony L. Burrow³  Jennifer P. Agans⁴ 

[1] The Pennsylvania State University;Baruch College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York;Department of Human Development, Cornell University;Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management

关键词: purpose;    4-H;    positive youth development;    program engagement;    intervention;   

DOI  :  10.5195/jyd.2018.601

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh

【 摘 要 】

Recent evidence that reflecting on one’s purpose in life increases engagement with academic tasks inspires questions about whether purpose interventions might enhance learning engagement more broadly. This potential may be particularly fruitful for programs serving youth from a wide range of ages wherein sustaining engagement may be challenging. Here, we explored whether a brief purpose writing intervention would increase adolescents’ engagement in 4-H programs. Participants (N = 130) were randomly assigned to write about either their sense of purpose or a control topic prior to the first day of a program, and they reported their level of program engagement at the end of that day. Regression analysis showed participant age was negatively associated with program engagement. However, writing about purpose halted this age-related decline in engagement. These preliminary findings situate purpose as a resource that can be leveraged to sustain older youths’ interest and engagement in youth programming.

【 授权许可】

CC BY