Journal article
Development of a Youth Civic Engagement Program: Process and Pilot Testing with a Youth-Partnered Research Team
American journal of community psychology, v 69(1-2), pp 86-99
Mar 2022
PMID: 34350588
Abstract
Although research suggests neighborhood-level factors influence youth well-being, few studies include youth when creating interventions to address these factors. We describe our three-step process of collaborating with youth in low-income communities to develop an intervention focused on civic engagement as a means to address neighborhood-level problems impacting their well-being. In the first step, we analyzed qualitative interviews from a project in which youth shared perceptions about their neighborhoods (e.g., interpersonal relations with neighbors and institutions). Three major themes were identified: pride in youth's communities, desire for change, and perceptions of power and responsibility. Based on these themes, we completed the second step: developing a civic engagement and leadership program, called LEAP, aimed at helping youth take an active role in addressing neighborhood problems. In the third step, we collaborated with youth who completed a pilot version of the civic program and provided feedback to finalize it for large-scale testing. While discussing our process, we highlight the importance of including youth voices when developing programs that affect them. Furthermore, we note the need for more research exploring whether civic engagement serves as a mechanism for encouraging youth involvement in addressing neighborhood-level health disparities and identifying potential psychological costs of such involvement.
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Details
- Title
- Development of a Youth Civic Engagement Program: Process and Pilot Testing with a Youth-Partnered Research Team
- Creators
- Margarita Alegría - Massachusetts General HospitalKiara Alvarez - Massachusetts General HospitalAmanda NeMoyer - Drexel UniversityJenny Zhen-Duan - Massachusetts General HospitalChristine Marsico - Wheelock CollegeIsabel Shaheen O'Malley - Massachusetts General HospitalRavali Mukthineni - Massachusetts General HospitalThalia Porteny - Tufts UniversityCarolina-Nicole Herrera - Boston UniversityJesse Najarro Cermeño - Disparities Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USAKyle Kingston - Massachusetts General HospitalEmnet Sisay - Massachusetts General HospitalEdison Trickett - University of Miami
- Publication Details
- American journal of community psychology, v 69(1-2), pp 86-99
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- T32 MH019733 / NIMH NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000681278300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85111761827
- Other Identifier
- 991019167918104721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Multidisciplinary
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- Social Work