Trajectories of Organized Activity Participation Among Urban Adolescents: An Analysis of Predisposing Factors.
Organized activity participation provides important opportunities for adolescents to develop assets and resources related to positive youth development. Predisposing factors, in addition to sociodemographics and self-selection factors, may influence how youth participate over time. In this study, we used growth mixture modeling with longitudinal data from African American adolescents attending urban high schools in Flint, MI to identify subgroups of participation trajectories (Wave 1 N = 681, mean age at Wave 1 = 14.86 years, 51% female). We measured activity participation using psychological and behavioral engagement across multiple contexts over the 4 years of high school. We examined how predisposing risk and promotive factors were related to these trajectories, accounting for sociodemographic and self-selection factors. The results indicated three participation trajectories: a low group decreasing over time (74%), a moderate, consistent participation group (21%) and a moderate, increasing group (5%). More substance use was associated with lower odds of being in the moderate/consistent versus low/decreasing participation group. More parental support was associated with lower odds of being in the moderate/increasing versus the moderate/consistent group. Our results suggest that addressing predisposing factors such as substance use may help facilitate participation over time.
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA. aeisman@umich.edu.
Andria B
AB
Eisman
University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 N. Ingalls Building, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5482, USA.
Sarah A
SA
Stoddard
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
José A
JA
Bauermeister
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
Cleopatra H
CH
Caldwell
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
Marc A
MA
Zimmerman
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology; D014505:Urban Population
Adolescent development; Longitudinal studies; Organized activity participation; Positive youth development; Protective factors; Risk factors