Ohio State University Extension

Family Life Month Packet 2001

Family and Consumer Sciences

Human Development and Family Science

Fact Sheet

FLM-FS-6-01

Connecting Can Keep Youth Out of the "System"

Elizabeth Smith, M.S., Family and Consumer Science Agent, Wyandot County, Ohio State University Extension, The Ohio State University

Youth behavior problems can be very alarming to adults as well as to the community in which they live. Behaviors like truancy, which is described as being absent from school without permission, have been referred to as "first steps to a lifetime of problems" for youth. The Ohio Department of Education estimates that approximately 98,630 of the 1.8 million students enrolled in Ohio schools are absent on any given day. Students who do not attend school on a daily basis have a higher risk of involvement in drug and alcohol use, violence, and gang activity. In fact, it is estimated that 44% of the violent crimes committed by youth occur between the daytime hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.—the hours when youth should be in school. Therefore, teens need to be involved and "connected" in positive activities at school or with other organizations outside of school to avoid behavior problems. So, how do we get teens "connected?" Two important ways are to get them involved in social activities and to strengthen family relationships.

Social Activities

Most social activities encourage positive social values and behavior. Research suggests that youth are influenced by both the culture associated with the activity and the experiences they have as a part of that activity. Social activities benefit youth by teaching them skills that will help them build other aspects of their lives. Good youth social activities provide:

• Feelings of being part of a special group
• Opportunities to set goals
• Leadership roles
• Age-appropriate activities
• Parent involvement
• Opportunities to develop healthy relationships with other caring adults

How do these activities influence youth for the better? The research shows that youth who participate in extracurricular activities, such as clubs, sports, arts, or music, are more likely to:

• Earn better grades
• Have higher educational goals
• Attend school more regularly
• Feel better about themselves

Time spent in extracurricular activities could also decrease the opportunity for youth to be involved in problem behaviors. For example, these same youth are less likely to:

• Use addictive substances
• Drop out of school
• Misbehave at school
• Commit delinquent acts

Strong Family Ties

Youth participate in less risky behaviors when they feel secure in their family relationships. Feeling secure means that youth feel close to their parents and know their parents and other family members care about them. Studies show that parents who want to help their children avoid risky behaviors should:

• Be available for and spend time with their children. Research shows that teens are less likely to be involved in risky behaviors if their parents are present at key times during the day—breakfast, after school, dinner, and bedtime.
• Actively listen to and talk with their children about what to do and what not to do. Listening to teens has been shown to be, perhaps, the most important part of good communication. Effective parent-adolescent communication has been associated with a number of benefits such as a decreased use of alcohol and drugs, delayed sexual intercourse, and less adolescent depression.
• Set high standards for their children. Young people whose parents hold high, realistic expectations for their children's performance report fewer signs of emotional distress.
• Be involved in their children's school. Communicating with your child's teachers and school officials is one of the most important things parents can do. Children whose parents work with their teachers to build a partnership tend to have more positive attitudes about school and thus do better in school.
• Send clear messages to their children. Parents should role model the behavior that they would like to see their children exhibit. Research has found that parents, not just peers, are important role models for their children throughout their growing years.

Research indicates that a feeling of personal connection to family and school plays an important part in protecting young people from being involved in behaviors that endanger their health. Young people need to live in an environment of love, care, and support. These feelings need to be transmitted from family members as well as other people who play an important part in the youth's life. They need to be involved in groups and organizations that will provide encouragement and positive support. Connecting youth in positive directions can prevent them from taking the wrong turn.

References

Blum, R.W., & Rinehart, P.M. (1997). Reducing the risk: Connections that make a difference in the lives of youth. Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota.

Garry, E.M. (1996). Truancy: First step to a lifetime of problems. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Mahoney, J., & Cairns, R. (1997). Do extracurricular activities protect against early school dropout? Developmental Psychology, 33, 241-253.

Marsh, H. (1992). Extracurricular activities: Beneficial extension of the traditional curriculum or subversion of academic goals? Journal of Educational Psychology, 84, 553-562.

Office of Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention. (1998). Comprehensive strategy curriculum: Promising approaches for graduated sanctions. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education.

Resnick, Michael D., et al. (1997). Protecting adolescents from harm: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Journal of the American Medical Association, 278, 823-832.

For more information, visit the Human Development and Family Life website at: http://www.hec.ohio-state.edu/famlife/

Click here for the PDF version of this fact sheet.