Implications of Extracurricular Activity Participation During Adolescence on Positive Outcomes

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine if participation in extracurricular activities predicts multiple positive outcomes such as attending college, voting in national and regional elections, and volunteering for community and religious organizations. From analyses of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, a nationally representative survey of students, our results suggest that consistent participation in extracurricular activities from 8th grade through 12th grade predicts academic achievement and prosocial behaviors in young adulthood. This finding remains after accounting for control and individual, parent, peer, and school process variables. Both research and policy implications are discussed.

Exploring the relationship between the relative age effect and youth development among male house league ice hockey players

“…Furthermore, participation in extracurricular activities has been shown to improve academic achievement (Cooper et al, 1999) and extend to other areas such as college attendance (Mahoney et al, 2003), and civic involvement (Zaff et al, 2003). In the future, parents, teachers, and other relevant stakeholders should consider promoting sport to children, particularly at the house league level, as a method to facilitate positive development (i.e., goal setting, personal and social skills, cognitive skills, and initiative) and leadership skills, given that relative age plays no discriminating role in these outcomes.…”

“…articipation in organized extracurricular activities has been associated with various positive outcomes including increased academic achievement (Cooper, Valentine, Nye, & Lindsay, 1999), interpersonal competence (Mahoney, Cairns, & Famer, 2003), college attendance (Mahoney et al, 2003;Zaff et al, 2003), civic involvement (Zaff et al, 2003), and lower rates of early school dropout (Mahoney & Cairns, 1997). Organized sport has become a popular activity for youth, particularly in Canada, where approximately 76% of Canadians aged 6-17 years were found to participate in at least one form of organized sport (Guèvremont, Findlay, & Kohen, 2008).…”

Intensity and Breadth of Participation in Organized Activities During the Adolescent Years: Multiple Associations with Youth Outcomes

“…Moreover, consistency is an important dimension of youth activity participation (Darling, 2005;Fredricks & Eccles, 2006a;Gardner et al, 2008;Mahoney et al, 2003;Zaff et al, 2003). Youth with high levels of participation in early-to-mid-adolescence may also remain more involved over time, although perhaps to a lesser degree.…”

“…As revealed by other studies, consistency might be the key. Youth who participate consistently over time show better outcomes than those who do not (Darling, 2005;Fredricks & Eccles, 2006a;Gardner et al, 2008;Mahoney et al, 2003;Zaff et al, 2003). Yet, individual variations are likely to exist in adolescents' participation practices over the years.…”

“…These activities, taking place both at school (extracurricular activities) and in the community, are characterized by the presence of an adult leader, rule-guided engagement, regular participation schedules, and an emphasis on skill-building (Larson, 2000;Mahoney & Stattin, 2000). Several studies have shown that participating in these activities is associated with positive educational trajectories (Darling, 2005;Eccles & Barber, 1999;Mahoney, Cairns, & Farmer, 2003), lower rates of both risky behaviors (Eccles & Barber, 1999;Mahoney, 2000) and internalizing problems (Barber, Eccles, & Stone, 2001;Fredricks & Eccles, 2006b), and higher rates of civic engagement (Fredricks & Eccles, 2006b;Gardner, Roth, & Brooks-Gunn, 2008;Zaff, Moore, Papillo, & Williams, 2003). To explain these benefits, researchers have suggested that organized activities are likely to promote positive developmental experiences, such as identity formation, initiative development, skill building, and relations with activity peers and leaders (Denault & Poulin, 2008;Larson, Hansen, & Moneta, 2006;Lerner, Almegiri, Theokas, & Lerner, 2005;Mahoney, Larson, & Eccles, 2005).…”