Positive Youth Development Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Conceptual Framework and Systematic Review of Efficacy

Catalano, Richard F.; Skinner, Martie L.; Alvarado, Gina; Kapungu, Chisina; Reavley, Nicola; Patton, George C; Jessee, Cassandra; Plaut, Daniel; Moss, Caitlin; Bennett, Kristina; Sawyer, Susan Μ; Sebany, Meroji; Sexton, M; Olenik, Christina; Petroni, Suzanne

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.01.024

Cited by 76 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…To address this gap in evidence-based interventions, this study tested a peer mentoring program that drew upon the "Five C's" of positive youth development: competence, confidence, connection, character and caring. Particularly salient principles are confidence, the internal sense of overall positive self-worth, and connection, the positive bonds youth have with peers, family, community and institutions [24][25][26]. The study also drew upon constructs from Social Cognitive Theory including self-efficacy to perform a behavior, agency to change one's situation and observational learning with peer mentors acting as role models [27,28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Project YES! Youth Engaging for Success: A randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a clinic-based peer mentoring program on viral suppression, adherence and internalized stigma among HIV-positive youth (15-24 years) in Ndola, Zambia

Denison

Burke

Miti³

et al. 2020

PLoS ONE

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Background Youth-led strategies remain untested in clinic-based programs to improve viral suppression (VS) and reduce stigma among HIV-positive adolescents and young adults (AYA) in sub-Saharan Africa. In response, Project YES! placed paid HIV-positive youth peer mentors (YPM) in four HIV clinics in Ndola, Zambia including a Children's Hospital (pediatric setting), an adult Hospital and two primary care facilities (adult settings). Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2017 to February 2019. Consecutively recruited 15 to 24-year-olds were randomly assigned to an intervention arm with monthly YPM one-on-one and group sessions and optional caregiver support groups, or a usual care comparison arm. Survey data and blood samples were collected at baseline and at the six-month midline. Generalized estimating equation models evaluated the effect of study arm over time on VS, antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence gap, and internalized stigma. Results Out of 276 randomized youth, 273 were included in the analysis (Intervention n = 137, Comparison n = 136). VS significantly improved in both arms (I:63.5% to 73.0%; C:63.7% to 71.3.0%) [OR:1.49, 95% CI:1.08, 2.07]. In a stratified analysis intervention (I:37.5% to 70.5%) versus the comparison (C:60.3% to 59.4%) participants from the pediatric clinic experienced a relative increase in the odds of VS by a factor of 4.7 [interaction term OR:4.66, 95% CI:1.84, 11.78]. There was no evidence of a study arm difference in VS

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Project YES! Youth Engaging for Success: A randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a clinic-based peer mentoring program on viral suppression, adherence and internalized stigma among HIV-positive youth (15-24 years) in Ndola, Zambia

Denison

Burke

Miti³

et al. 2020

PLoS ONE

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“…Thus, promoting positive youth development plays an essential role in protecting against depression. Under this condition, a number of interventional studies were conducted in North America and in Hong Kong, suggesting that positive youth development programs are associated with reduced problematic behaviors including depression, and additionally promotes positive development [ 23 , 50 , 51 ]. Moreover, several evidence-based interventions are found to be useful for prevention and treatment of persistent depression among adolescents, which include Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) and The Penn Resiliency Project (PRP) [ 52 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistence and remission of depressive symptoms and psycho-social correlates in Chinese early adolescents

Chi

Becker

et al. 2020

BMC Psychiatry

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Background: This study aimed to investigate a one-year course of persistent/remitted depressive symptoms and associated demographic and psychosocial factors that predict persistent/remitted depressive symptoms in Chinese high school students. Methods: One thousand five hundred forty-four Grade 7 students provided data for the first wave. Of the initially recruited students, 483 who were classified as depressed (CESD score ≥ 16) at baseline were then tracked and invited to fill in the questionnaire for a second time (Grade 8) after 1 year. Finally, 435 of them were successfully matched. Results: Two hundred two (46.4%) of the subset categorized as depressed in the first survey (N = 435) remained with depressive symptoms, while 233 (53.6%) recovered from depression 1 year later. Having siblings, a lower level of positive youth development, non-intact family status, and poor family functioning at baseline significantly predicted a higher likelihood of persistent depression, while those with fathers having higher educational qualifications (bachelor's degree or higher) at baseline showed a significantly higher probability of remitting from depression. Conclusions: The findings indicated that the prevalence of persistent depressive symptoms was generally high, and promoting aspects of positive youth development and family functioning for adolescents could be promising in preventing or reducing these symptoms.

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“…In countries such as Pakistan where 64% of the population is under the age of 29 years (17), programs providing opportunities for youth to pursue education and employment are in high demand. Positive Youth Development (PYD) interventions, defined as interventions that seek to "build skills, assets, and competencies; foster youth agency; build healthy relationships; strengthen the environment; and transform systems" (18), have emerged as a strategy to support youth during this critical phase. While PYD interventions have been well-studied in high-income countries and found to significantly reduce risky behaviors and improve youth mental health, physical health, economic outcomes, and general wellbeing, few youth development programs have been implemented and rigorously evaluated in LMICs (19,18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Positive Youth Development (PYD) interventions, defined as interventions that seek to "build skills, assets, and competencies; foster youth agency; build healthy relationships; strengthen the environment; and transform systems" (18), have emerged as a strategy to support youth during this critical phase. While PYD interventions have been well-studied in high-income countries and found to significantly reduce risky behaviors and improve youth mental health, physical health, economic outcomes, and general wellbeing, few youth development programs have been implemented and rigorously evaluated in LMICs (19,18). A recent systematic review identified just 94 PYD programs targeting youth in LMICs implemented between 1990-2016, of which only 37% of programs had been rigorously evaluated (18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While PYD interventions have been well-studied in high-income countries and found to significantly reduce risky behaviors and improve youth mental health, physical health, economic outcomes, and general wellbeing, few youth development programs have been implemented and rigorously evaluated in LMICs (19,18). A recent systematic review identified just 94 PYD programs targeting youth in LMICs implemented between 1990-2016, of which only 37% of programs had been rigorously evaluated (18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating implementation of LEAPS, a youth-led early childhood care and education intervention in rural Pakistan: protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial

Yousafzai

Sudfeld

Franchett

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight the importance of investments in early childhood care and education (ECCE) for young children and youth development. Given Pakistan's large young population and gender and urban-rural inequalities in access to education, training and employment, such investments offer opportunities. LEAPS is a youth-led ECCE program that trains female youth, 18-24 years, as Community Youth Leaders (CYLs) to deliver high quality ECCE for children, 3.5-5.5 years, in rural Sindh, Pakistan. Methods: We use a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial to evaluate implementation of LEAPS. Ninety nine clusters will be randomized to receive the intervention in one of three seven-month steps (33 clusters/step). Primary outcomes are children's school readiness (measured with the International Development and Early Learning Assessment) and executive functions. Secondary outcomes are youth personal and professional development, depressive symptoms, and executive functions. Data is collected in cross-sectional surveys of 1,089 children (11 children/cluster from 99 clusters) aged 4.5-5.5 years at four time points (baseline and at the end of each step). We will enroll three youth participant open cohorts, one per step (33 CYLs: 66 comparison youth per cohort; 99:198 in total). Youth cohorts will be assessed at enrollment and every six to seven months thereafter (i.e., once per consecutive Step). A school cohort of 330 LEAPS students (10 students/cluster from 33 clusters) will be enrolled and assessed during Step 1 after intervention rollout and at endline. The quality of the learning environment will be assessed in each LEAPS ECCE center and in a comparison center at two time points midway following rollout and at endline. A concurrent mixed-methods implementation evaluation will assess program fidelity and quality, as well as the extent to which a technical support strategy is successful in strengthening systems for program expansion. A cost evaluation will assess cost-per-beneficiary. Data collection for implementation and cost evaluations will occur in Step 3. Discussion: Youth-led models for ECCE offer a promising approach to support young children and youth; however, there is little empirical evidence on real-world implementation. This study will contribute to the evidence as a means to promote sustainable human development across multiple SDG targets.

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Positive Youth Development Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Conceptual Framework and Systematic Review of Efficacy

Cited by 76 publications

References 54 publications

Project YES! Youth Engaging for Success: A randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a clinic-based peer mentoring program on viral suppression, adherence and internalized stigma among HIV-positive youth (15-24 years) in Ndola, Zambia

Project YES! Youth Engaging for Success: A randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a clinic-based peer mentoring program on viral suppression, adherence and internalized stigma among HIV-positive youth (15-24 years) in Ndola, Zambia

Persistence and remission of depressive symptoms and psycho-social correlates in Chinese early adolescents

Evaluating implementation of LEAPS, a youth-led early childhood care and education intervention in rural Pakistan: protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial

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