Abstract
Participation in extracurricular activities is purported to protect the broad spectrum of youth from a host of behavioral
risks. Yet, empirical research on the extent to which this assumption holds for involvement in violence by immigrant youth
is limited. Thus, using data for 13,236 (51.8% female) adolescents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health,
this study explores how the relationship between extracurricular activities and youth violence varies by type of extracurricular
activity profile (sports alone, non-sports alone, and a combination of sports and non-sports) and by generations of immigration
(first, second, and third-plus). The sample is composed of 9.3% (n = 1,233) first-generation youth, 15.7% (n = 2,080) second generation, and 74.9% (n = 9,923) third-plus generation. The results reveal that adolescents from the third-plus generation (i.e., non-immigrant youth)
who participate in non-sports alone or sports plus non-sports have lower odds of involvement in violence than adolescents
from the same generation who do not participate in extracurricular activities. However, for first- and second-generation adolescents,
participation in extracurricular activities is associated with higher rather than lower odds of violence compared to their
non-participating counterparts. These findings challenge the viewpoint that participation in mainstream extracurricular activities
as afforded by US schools is equally beneficial for all youth. They also call for additional research that explores why immigrant
youth are less likely than non-immigrant youth to gain violence-reducing benefits when they participate in extracurricular
activities.
risks. Yet, empirical research on the extent to which this assumption holds for involvement in violence by immigrant youth
is limited. Thus, using data for 13,236 (51.8% female) adolescents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health,
this study explores how the relationship between extracurricular activities and youth violence varies by type of extracurricular
activity profile (sports alone, non-sports alone, and a combination of sports and non-sports) and by generations of immigration
(first, second, and third-plus). The sample is composed of 9.3% (n = 1,233) first-generation youth, 15.7% (n = 2,080) second generation, and 74.9% (n = 9,923) third-plus generation. The results reveal that adolescents from the third-plus generation (i.e., non-immigrant youth)
who participate in non-sports alone or sports plus non-sports have lower odds of involvement in violence than adolescents
from the same generation who do not participate in extracurricular activities. However, for first- and second-generation adolescents,
participation in extracurricular activities is associated with higher rather than lower odds of violence compared to their
non-participating counterparts. These findings challenge the viewpoint that participation in mainstream extracurricular activities
as afforded by US schools is equally beneficial for all youth. They also call for additional research that explores why immigrant
youth are less likely than non-immigrant youth to gain violence-reducing benefits when they participate in extracurricular
activities.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-17
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-011-9736-5
- Authors
- Xin Jiang, Department of Sociology, Ohio State University, 238 Townshend Hall, 1885 Neil Avenue Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Ruth D. Peterson, Department of Sociology, Ohio State University, 238 Townshend Hall, 1885 Neil Avenue Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891