This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hamilton, S. F. Articles by Fenzel, L. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Impact of Volunteer Experience on Adolescent Social Development: Evidence of Program Effects

L. Mickey Fenzel

Cornell University

The Social and Personal Responsibility Scale was employed in a study of the Youth Volunteers program, involving 44 adolescents in 12 projects, equally divided between child care and community service. Participants showed statistically significant gains on the Social Responsibility subscale. Girls gained more than boys and volunteers in community improvement projects gained more than those in child care. However, as in previous studies, gains were quite modest. Testimony from adolescents and adult participants was more strongly positive, volunteers citing improvement in their knowledge of themselves and others and the acquisition of new skills, adults seeing greater willingness to make decisions. Child care volunteers and their adult advisers said they gained competence in working with young children. The generalized impact of volunteer experience on enduring attitudes appears to be positive but small. Future studies should attend as well to differences in the nature of the experiences adolescent volunteers have and to effects that vary among participants.

Journal of Adolescent Research, Vol. 3, No. 1, 65-80 (1988)
DOI: 10.1177/074355488831006


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Ronel, D. Haski-Leventhal, B. M. Ben-David, and A. S. York Perceived Altruism: A Neglected Factor in Initial Intervention Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol, April 1, 2009; 53(2): 191 - 210. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. Metz, J. McLellan, and J. Youniss Types of Voluntary Service and Adolescents' Civic Development Journal of Adolescent Research, March 1, 2003; 18(2): 188 - 203. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. Riedel The Impact of High School Community Service Programs on Students' Feelings of Civic Obligation American Politics Research, September 1, 2002; 30(5): 499 - 527. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. C. Scales, D. A. Blyth, T. H. Berkas, and J. C. Kielsmeier The Effects of Service-Learning on Middle School Students' Social Responsibility and Academic Success The Journal of Early Adolescence, August 1, 2000; 20(3): 332 - 358. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C.-K. CHEUNG and N.-P. NGAI Service Role Commitment Among Participants in Centers For Children and Youth Childhood, February 1, 2000; 7(1): 27 - 42. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. P. Moore and J. H. Sandholtz Designing Successful Service Learning Projects for Urban Schools Urban Education, November 1, 1999; 34(4): 480 - 498. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. S. Hinck and M. E. Brandell Service Learning: Facilitating Academic Learning and Character Development NASSP Bulletin, October 1, 1999; 83(609): 16 - 24. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. Checkoway, K. Pothukuchi, and J. Finn Youth Participation in Community Planning: What are the Benefits? Journal of Planning Education and Research, January 1, 1995; 14(2): 134 - 139.

				J. G. Keith, C. S. Nelson, J. H. Schlabach, and C. J. Thompson The Relationship between Parental Employment and Three Measures of Early Adolescent Responsibility: Family-Related, Personal, and Social The Journal of Early Adolescence, August 1, 1990; 10(3): 399 - 415. [Abstract]