What Keeps Kids Coming Back? Retention in a Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Program
Research finds engagement in sport-based positive youth development (PYD) programs contribute to key outcomes related to physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and mental health. Consistent, long-term participation ensures youth, especially those who are socially vulnerable, reap the most benefits....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.816539/full |
| _version_ | 1811295129467617280 |
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| author | Dawn Anderson-Butcher Anthony J. Amorose Claire Sobecki Travis R. Scheadler Obidiah Atkinson Emily Gutzwiller |
| author_facet | Dawn Anderson-Butcher Anthony J. Amorose Claire Sobecki Travis R. Scheadler Obidiah Atkinson Emily Gutzwiller |
| author_sort | Dawn Anderson-Butcher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research finds engagement in sport-based positive youth development (PYD) programs contribute to key outcomes related to physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and mental health. Consistent, long-term participation ensures youth, especially those who are socially vulnerable, reap the most benefits. Even when common barriers are removed, retention remains a challenge. Using mixed methods, this study explored factors related to long-term retention among youth from socially vulnerable circumstances attending one sport-based PYD program. Factors related to youth participation in the previous year's program, as well as general youth demographics, were examined using difference tests and binomial logistic regression to explore retention among 124 of the 384 youth who returned to the program the following year. Results of the regression analyses showed the full model (with all predictors included), vs. an intercept-only model, was statistically significant, χ2 (11, N = 235) = 23.38, p = 0.02. The model correctly classified 88.2% of the non-returners and 28.0% of the returners for an overall correct classification rate of 67.2%. Better fitness levels, higher perceived social responsibility (an outcome targeted in the program), and some demographic variables (such as lower poverty rates and younger age) were associated with a greater probability of returning, although effect sizes were small. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 18 parent/caregivers of returning youth and 18 match comparison parent/caregivers of non-returning youth. Qualitative analyses revealed few differences in previous year's program experiences between returners and non-returners, as well as similarities in reported benefits from involvement. Both sets of parent/caregivers cited positive experiences overall, and particular benefits related to meeting new people and learning new sports. Parents/caregivers of non-returners, however, noted the value of physical literacy components of the program more so than their counterparts. Social interactions, both positive and negative, seem to have particular relevance for retention. Findings overall, however, demonstrate challenges with predicting retention and fostering long-term engagement among youth from socially vulnerable circumstances in programming. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:28:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cd61a789d51b4dd0b0e6f7626d0df952 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:28:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-cd61a789d51b4dd0b0e6f7626d0df9522022-12-22T03:00:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672022-07-01410.3389/fspor.2022.816539816539What Keeps Kids Coming Back? Retention in a Sport-Based Positive Youth Development ProgramDawn Anderson-Butcher0Anthony J. Amorose1Claire Sobecki2Travis R. Scheadler3Obidiah Atkinson4Emily Gutzwiller5College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United StatesSchool of Kinesiology and Recreation, College of Applied Science and Technology, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, United StatesCollege of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United StatesCollege of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United StatesDepartment of Human Sciences, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United StatesCollege of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United StatesResearch finds engagement in sport-based positive youth development (PYD) programs contribute to key outcomes related to physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and mental health. Consistent, long-term participation ensures youth, especially those who are socially vulnerable, reap the most benefits. Even when common barriers are removed, retention remains a challenge. Using mixed methods, this study explored factors related to long-term retention among youth from socially vulnerable circumstances attending one sport-based PYD program. Factors related to youth participation in the previous year's program, as well as general youth demographics, were examined using difference tests and binomial logistic regression to explore retention among 124 of the 384 youth who returned to the program the following year. Results of the regression analyses showed the full model (with all predictors included), vs. an intercept-only model, was statistically significant, χ2 (11, N = 235) = 23.38, p = 0.02. The model correctly classified 88.2% of the non-returners and 28.0% of the returners for an overall correct classification rate of 67.2%. Better fitness levels, higher perceived social responsibility (an outcome targeted in the program), and some demographic variables (such as lower poverty rates and younger age) were associated with a greater probability of returning, although effect sizes were small. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 18 parent/caregivers of returning youth and 18 match comparison parent/caregivers of non-returning youth. Qualitative analyses revealed few differences in previous year's program experiences between returners and non-returners, as well as similarities in reported benefits from involvement. Both sets of parent/caregivers cited positive experiences overall, and particular benefits related to meeting new people and learning new sports. Parents/caregivers of non-returners, however, noted the value of physical literacy components of the program more so than their counterparts. Social interactions, both positive and negative, seem to have particular relevance for retention. Findings overall, however, demonstrate challenges with predicting retention and fostering long-term engagement among youth from socially vulnerable circumstances in programming.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.816539/fullretentiondisadvantaged populationsyouth sportpositive youth developmentlife skills |
| spellingShingle | Dawn Anderson-Butcher Anthony J. Amorose Claire Sobecki Travis R. Scheadler Obidiah Atkinson Emily Gutzwiller What Keeps Kids Coming Back? Retention in a Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Program Frontiers in Sports and Active Living retention disadvantaged populations youth sport positive youth development life skills |
| title | What Keeps Kids Coming Back? Retention in a Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Program |
| title_full | What Keeps Kids Coming Back? Retention in a Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Program |
| title_fullStr | What Keeps Kids Coming Back? Retention in a Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | What Keeps Kids Coming Back? Retention in a Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Program |
| title_short | What Keeps Kids Coming Back? Retention in a Sport-Based Positive Youth Development Program |
| title_sort | what keeps kids coming back retention in a sport based positive youth development program |
| topic | retention disadvantaged populations youth sport positive youth development life skills |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.816539/full |
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