Special Section Introduction: Thriving in Context: Findings from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development

• NCJ Number: 242719
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 42 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2013 Pages: 1-5
• Author(s): G. John Geldhof; Edmond P. Bowers; Richard M. Lerner
• Date Published: January 2013
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article provide support for the use of a relational developmental systems theory-based approach to the thriving process.

Abstract

The positive youth development perspective, a strength-based relational developmental systems model that focuses on mutually influential relationships between individuals and contexts, has been used to study thriving across the second decade of life. However, more attention has been paid empirically to identifying the features of the individual (e.g., intentional self-regulation, hope, or purpose) or to enumerating the role of context-general ecological assets than to the nature of individual-context relationships linked to thriving within specific contexts. The goal of this special section is to provide initial research reports about context-specific instances of the thriving process. The research focuses on two contexts where many youth spend a considerable amount, and often the majority, of their timeschool and out-of-school time sports activities. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.