The Role of Organized Activities in Supporting Youth Moral and Civic Character Development: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Organized activities have been championed as an important youth setting to nurture character development through childhood and adolescence, but scholars have yet to document the state of research on activities and youth character. Using guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Statement (PRISMA, Moher et al., PLoS Med 6(7):e1000097, 2009), this study conducts an extensive review of previous research in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various ways in which organized activities support moral and civic character development. Through database and backward and forward citation searches, 65 studies were deemed eligible between 1999 and 2019, with 44 studies on civic character and 21 studies on moral character. Relations between organized activity participation and character development were assessed by five key dimensions of activity participation (intensity, duration, breadth, type and quality of the activity), and by youth characteristics (e.g., age, family income, gender, motivation/engagement in the activity). Review of the character literature provides evidence for the positive relations between organized activities and youth's concurrent and long-term moral and civic character development. For civic studies, findings suggest that the greater the intensity, duration, and breadth of participation, the more favorable youth character outcomes. For moral character, the type and quality of the activity setting appear to be particularly important for supporting development. Overall, findings suggest that moral and civic character development ought to be considered and intentionally nurtured within activities as two separate, yet complimentary dimensions of interpersonal character. Future research is needed that explores various mechanisms that explain these associations and examines variations by characteristics of youth.

Organized activities in adolescence and pro‐environmental behaviors in adulthood: The mediating role of pro‐environmental attitudes

“…As mentioned earlier, prior research suggests that a positive association exists between OAs and civic engagement (Zarrett et al, 2021). Yet, this association might differ depending on the type of activity practiced in adolescence, as these are thought to offer different socialization experiences (Larson et al, 2006).…”

“…These models, as well as empirical studies, strongly suggest that PEAs could later translate into PEBs (Yuriev et al, 2020). We thus believe that some types of OAs considered in this study could possibly foster PEAs, since they all have been shown to foster civic engagement to different extents (Zarrett et al, 2021). In turn, PEAs should be positively associated with PEBs.…”

“…Importantly, these activities involve socialization processes whereby adolescents internalize norms, rules, values, and attitudes through interactions with other participating peers and adult leaders (Vandell et al, 2015). These socialization processes seem to foster PEBs (Chawla, 2009) and civic engagement (Zarrett et al, 2021). Civic engagement refers to behaviors, values, knowledge, and skills favoring prosocial and political contributions to a community (Sherrod & Lauckhardt, 2009).…”

“…Studies and reports have often documented positive associations between these activities and civic participation (Campagna et al, 2020; Leroux & Bernadska, 2014; Polzella & Forbis, 2016). Specifically, religious activities have been associated with civic engagement (i.e., voting, donating to charity; Zarrett et al, 2021). Other studies have found that socialization occurring in religious groups dampened environmental orientation by cultivating political conservatism and a “dominion‐over‐nature” view (Sherkat & Ellison, 2007).…”

“…Yet, evidence about the importance of socialization and context in the development of civic attitudes suggests that emerging adulthood most likely offers more reliable data regarding PEAs (Lerner et al, 2014; Zarrett et al, 2021). As for PEBs, they too may be observed at any age.…”