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Associations of Participation in Service Activities with Academic, Behavioral, and Civic Outcomes of Adolescents at Varying Risk Levels

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Abstract

Youth who participate in service activities differ from those who do not on a number of key demographic characteristics like socio-economic status and other indicators of risk; and most studies demonstrating positive outcomes among service participants employ small non-representative samples. Thus, there is little evidence as to whether the outcomes associated with service participation are similar among students with varying levels of risk. The National Household Education Survey of 1999, a large nationally representative cross-sectional data set that focused on community service, was analyzed to investigate associations between the risk status of 4,306 adolescent students (50.2% female; 63.3% European American, M age = 15.9), their participation in community service, and their academic adjustment, behavioral problems, and civic knowledge. Because adolescents who participate in service differ from those who do not with respect to demographic characteristics, propensity score analyses were used to correct for potential selection bias in the examination of these relationships. Analyses tested competing theoretical models of service—protective versus compensatory—among students at varying levels of risk, and suggested that service acts as a compensatory factor with respect to academic, behavioral, and civic outcomes. Propensity score analyses revealed patterns suggesting that, in some cases, students with certain demographic profiles that are themselves related to the likelihood of service participation may benefit from service participation more than others. Findings are discussed in terms of their significance for adolescent development, for planning service programs, and for educational policy.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the American Educational Research Association which receives funds for its “AERA Grants Program” from the National Science Foundation and the National Center for Education Statistics of the Institute of Education Sciences (U.S. Department of Education) under NSF Grant #REC-0634035. Opinions reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the granting agencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA

    Jennifer A. Schmidt & Lee Shumow

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA

    Hayal Z. Kackar

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  1. Jennifer A. Schmidt
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  2. Lee Shumow
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  3. Hayal Z. Kackar
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Correspondence to Jennifer A. Schmidt.

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Schmidt, J.A., Shumow, L. & Kackar, H.Z. Associations of Participation in Service Activities with Academic, Behavioral, and Civic Outcomes of Adolescents at Varying Risk Levels. J Youth Adolescence 41, 932–947 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-011-9694-y

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