New research shows that youth development programs like 4-H play a special and vital role in the lives of America's young people. According to The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD), youth have the capacity to thrive when presented with the resources for healthy development found in families, schools, and communities--regardless of background, socioeconomic status, race, or gender.
Researchers at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University with contribution by land-grant universities, surveyed more than 4,400 youth in grades 5-8 and 2,800 of their parents in the first four years of this longitudinal study. Those surveyed lived in rural, suburban, and urban areas in 34 states and were from a variety of racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.
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"WE FOUND THAT FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS, COMBINING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, SUCH AS 4-H, AND SPORTS WAS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PROMOTE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT AND TO PREVENT PROBLEMS."
-INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED RESEARCH IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, TUFTS UNIVERSITY
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The 4-H Study of PYD is the first research to show that the foundational characteristics of PYD --the Five C's of competence, confidence, connection, character and caring--can be measured, enabling youth development programs to finally prove their success. It also shows that young people who participate in a high number of positive youth development activities are more likely to develop a sixth characteristic: contribution. Conversely, young people who have few or no opportunities for PYD are at higher risk for personal, social and behavioral problems.
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Children who participated in 4-H for at least one year by eighth grade were 3.5 times more likely to contribute to their families, themselves and their communities.
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Eighth graders who participated in 4-H programs at least twice per month had greater confidence and higher grades and were 1.6 times more likely to plan to go to college.
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Eighth graders who participated in 4-H programs at least twice per month also scored higher on civic identity and engagement measures and had a greater ability to express opinions on community issues, help neighbors, and bond with adults and teachers.
The 4-H Study of PYD finds that youth involved in high-quality, structured out-of-school programs are more likely to develop the five C's the longer they participate. The study also found that the most important developmental assets associated with PYD is human: the caring, committed adults who work with youth on projects that make a difference in their communities.Youth development programs like 4-H, which provide optimal opportunities for positive youth development, reduce likelihood of youth to engage in risk behaviors such as underage drinking, smoking, bullying, and vandalism.
The study also confirms that 4-H youth are leaders, achieve higher marks in school, and contribute to self and society--all which help to strengthen the communities in which they live.
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