The psychological and social effects of community service tasks on adolescents
Abstract
Adolescent drug abuse and suicide are signs that represent young people's loss of hope for the future. Community service type programs offer significant potential to help combat adolescent problems that involve low self esteem and lack of purpose. These interventions contain a helping component whereby adolescents have an opportunity to develop a sense of purpose by assisting others. Theoretical and anecdotal evidence suggests that such programs may be important in nurturing adolescent's social and psychological development. Empirical evidence is sparse, however, and educational institutions lack information regarding the helping phenomenon. This investigation was aimed at answering the question, "What are the psychological and social effects of community service tasks on adolescents?". A mixed form (Patton, 1990), quasi- experimental design was used to investigate the research question. Pretests and posttests were administered to quantitatively measure changes in adolescents' self esteem, social interest, helping disposition, interpersonal competencies, and emotional disposition as a result of engaging in community service activities. Participants were asked to respond to three open ended questions to provide qualitative data. These questions asked participants: (1) to describe a significant event during their community service; (2) whether participants had come to feel differently about themselves as a result of community service and; (3) whether participants thought they had become more caring due to their service. Qualitative data demonstrated positive, self reported changes in self esteem, empathy, relationship development, felt importance, awareness, and attitudes toward themselves and others. However, quantitative data showed significant gains in experimental means on only one of the variables measured (self disclosure) as compared to control group means. Explanations of the discrepancy between qualitative data and quantitative data are provided, and suggestions are made for future research.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Kelly, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Academic guidance counseling|Educational psychology
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