ERIC Number: EJ1463275
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Apr
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-1890
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3319
Available Date: 2024-09-07
Promoting Positive Youth Development through an After-School Organized Art Activity Designed for Adolescents with Internalizing Problems
Rocio Macabena Perez1; Kim Archambault1,2,3; Véronique Dupéré1,4,5
Child & Youth Care Forum, v54 n2 p411-434 2025
Background: Mental health is a priority for high schools, but extant programs often focus on symptom reduction rather than promoting adolescents' developmental assets. Objective: The goal of this study is to examine whether Art in Mind (AIM), a strengths-based after-school organized art activity tailored to fit the needs of adolescents with internalizing problems, can promote young people's psychosocial adjustment and support their positive development. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental pre-program, post-program, and 5-month follow-up design, 50 students (mean age = 15.60; 68% female) from four Canadian high schools were assigned to AIM (n = 23) or to a waitlist condition (n = 27). Results: Results from 2 × 2 mixed ANCOVAs revealed significant time by condition interactions reflecting greater improvement in the AIM group with regards to depressive mood at post-program, and to general self-efficacy, social functioning, and positive self-esteem at follow-up. Planned comparisons revealed several significant improvements between pre- and post-program or post-program and follow-up in the AIM group (effect sizes ranging between d = 0.27 and 0.61), while none were observed in the waitlist group. Conclusions: This study supports the potential of after-school organized activities as a strategy to effectively foster positive youth development in adolescents with internalizing symptoms. Further studies are needed to understand the essential implementation parameters and mechanisms of action in these programs.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, After School Programs, Art Activities, Positive Behavior Supports, High School Students, Student Behavior, Mental Health, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Adolescent Development, Self Concept, Behavior Problems, Depression (Psychology), Self Destructive Behavior, Student Improvement, Self Esteem, Self Efficacy, Interpersonal Competence
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Université de Montréal, École de Psychoéducation, Montreal, Canada; 2Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Canada; 3Université de Montréal (CHUM), Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de L, Montreal, Canada; 4Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), Montreal, Canada; 5Institut Universitaire Jeunes en Difficulté (IUJD), Montreal, Canada