Thriving through Outdoor Programming: Trajectories of Prosocial Attributes
Burkhard, Brian.
2019
-
Specific outdoor programs have a developmental focus and are
designed for youth. In seeking to promote positive development in young people,
these programs take place largely apart from the human-designed environment and
leverage unique benefits of the outdoor context in program delivery. One area of
interest for these outdoor youth development programs is improving prosocial
attributes, such ... read moreas kindness and helpfulness. However, the rate and direction that
youth may change in such attributes of prosociality varies across individuals
(i.e., there are multiple developmental trajectories). Furthermore, it is possible
that these trajectories may differ in relation to demographic or program
characteristics. To explore how participation in outdoor-based youth development
programming is associated with prosocial development, I used growth mixture models
to examine whether there were subgroups of youth program participants in an
outdoor youth development program (Boy Scouts of America) who displayed similar
trajectories of the development of prosociality. I then assessed whether the
differences in these subgroups were associated with program (e.g., activity
participation) or demographic (e.g., socioeconomic) variables. I found that three
trajectories best described prosocial development in this context. The largest
trajectory group (84% of participants) was characterized by a high-stable
trajectory of prosocial development over two-and-a-half years. The second largest
trajectory group (12% of participants) was characterized by an increasing
trajectory, and the third and smallest trajectory group (4% of participants) was
characterized by a decreasing trajectory. The odds of being classified into the
high-stable or increasing prosocial development groups were highest among
participants who consistently engaged in weekend camping and outdoor activities.
There were also higher odds for summer camp participants to be classified into the
increasing trajectory group, but there were no statistically significant
associations between weekly meeting attendance dosage and odds of classification
into a prosocial trajectory group. In addition, overall program engagement was
positively associated with prosocial development. Last, although socioeconomic
status was not a predictor of prosocial trajectory group classification, youth
from low-income families participated in meetings, as well as in weekend camping
trips and activities, less often than youth from middle- and high-income families.
I discuss the implications of these findings for future research, and for youth
program practices.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2019.
Submitted to the Dept. of Child Development.
Advisor: Richard Lerner.
Committee: Sara Johnson, Ann Gillard, and Jun Wang.
Keyword: Developmental psychology.read less - ID:
- m613nb18b
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
