Does the amount of participation in afterschool programs relate to developmental outcomes? A review of the literature.
Contrary to the findings from previous reviews we found little support for the general notion that greater amounts of participation in afterschool programs was related to academic, behavioral, or socio-emotional outcomes. However, some relationships did emerge depending on how participation was conceptualized and measured, and the methodology used to assess the relationship between participation and outcomes. For example, some benefits occurred when participants with high levels of participation were compared to non-participants, not when they were compared to other program participants. Several suggestions are offered to improve future research on the relationship between aspects of participation and developmental outcomes.
Roth
Jodie L
JL
National Center for Children and Families, Teachers College, Columbia University, Box 39, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA. jr328@columbia.edu
Malone
Lizabeth M
LM
Brooks-Gunn
Jeanne
J
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D006801:Humans; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013997:Time Factors