The Impact of Parental Involvement on a Structured Youth Program Experience: A Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

Parental involvement is an often proposed, but rarely researched, key element of youth programs. Questions remain regarding the impact of parental involvement on program processes and outcomes. Qualitative data were collected over a one-year period with youth participants (n=46), parents (n=26), and teachers (n=5) associated with an international immersion/service learning program for adolescents. Three main research questions guided the data analysis: (1) what role does parental involvement play in the youths’ experience in the program; (2) how does parental involvement in the program influence the parent/child relationship; and (3) what role does parental involvement play in terms of the program’s long-term impact on the youth participants? Findings suggest a relationship between parental involvement in youth programs and improved parent/child communication, bonding, and perceptions of one another. Findings also suggest that having a common ground experience prolonged the experience’s positive post-participation effects.

Feasibility and Effect of Adding a Concurrent Parental Component to a School-Base Wellness Program Using Two Modes of Mobile-Based Technology – Mixed Methods Evaluation of RCT

“…There is robust evidence of the associated positive outcomes of parental engagement in school-based prevention programs [27][28][29]. This evidence is consistent with Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory [30,31], which proposes that interactions with parents around learned topics at school might help address internalizing concerns [4,32]. Digital-based prevention programs were suggested for this purpose [33][34][35].…”

“…The parental component includes weekly topic update letters to parents, with suggestions for dyadshared assignments. A prior study has suggested this strategy to avoid parents from falling into the role of disciplinarians [4].…”

“…Findings from previous studies suggest a relationship between parental involvement in youth programs and improved parent/child communication, bonding, and perceptions of one another. In addition, having common ground experience prolonged the positive post-participation effects of the experience [4].…”

Implementation Factors that Predict Positive Outcomes in a Community-based Intervention Program for at-Risk Adolescents

“…This may be due to adolescents exchanging more experiences and getting to know a greater variety of people in these groups (Alvarez, Rodrigo, & Byrne, 2016). Having a shorter program with high family involvement is also key when working on adolescents' empathy and social realization (Duerden, Witt, & Harrist, 2013), as adolescents must see that there is coherence between what the community is offering (the program) and what their families approve of.…”

Feasibility and effect of adding a concurrent parental component to a school-based wellness program using two modes of mobile-based technology – mixed methods evaluation of RCT

“…Moreover, relationship between parental involvement in youth programs and improved parent/child communication, bonding, and perceptions of one another was suggested. In addition, having common ground experience prolonged the positive post-participation effects of the intervention [ 4 ]. This evidence is consistent with Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems theory, which views child development as a complex system of relationships, affected by multiple levels of surrounding environment; From the immediate setting of the family and school, to broader socioeconomic and cultural factors [ 5 , 6 ].…”