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School‐Based Positive Youth Development: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Author(s) -
Curran Tess,
Wexler Lisa
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.12467
Subject(s) - mentorship , positive youth development , psychological intervention , curriculum , psychology , peer group , medical education , medicine , pedagogy , developmental psychology , psychiatry
BACKGROUND The values, perspectives, and behavior patterns that begin in adolescence can continue throughout one's life. Because of these lifetime effects, much research has focused on adolescent risk and prevention, but a new body of knowledge investigates protective factors and strengths. Positive youth development ( PYD ) increases internal and external assets during adolescence and is often based within communities. This review, however, focuses on school‐based PYD interventions because these institutions are the largest youth‐serving institutions in the country.METHODS This review considered 711 PYD school‐based programs found using 4 databases. We included articles published after 2000, and did not review those reporting on regular school curriculum or activities.RESULTS The 24 remaining articles describe PYD programs that fall under 3 general categories: curriculum‐based, leadership development, and student‐based mentorship programs.CONCLUSIONS Evaluations indicate that programs increase intrapsychic measures of well‐being in youth as well as social confidence and healthy behaviors. However, it is important to not only include “at‐risk” persons in programming, because a mixed group of young people encourages a more positive peer‐to‐peer climate. In addition, peer mentorship activities should be actively facilitated by an adult supervisor to ensure positive communication and trust between the mentor and mentee.