IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v87y2018icp173-185.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Challenge: To Be+. A group intervention program to promote the positive development of adolescents

Author

Listed:
  • Freire, Teresa
  • Lima, Isabel
  • Teixeira, Ana
  • Araújo, Marta Raquel
  • Machado, Alexandra

Abstract

In the last decades, research has focused on the promotion of positive youth development by creating, implementing and assessing positive youth interventions programs. This study analyzes the effectiveness of a group intervention program, titled “Challenge: To Be+”, aimed to promote positive development of adolescents, focusing on positive emotions, character strengths, and optimal experiences. We assessed its impact on positive developmental dimensions (self-esteem, self-concept, psychological well-being and satisfaction with life) and tested gender as a predictor of program impact in the experimental group. Furthermore, we explored the perceptions and the evaluation of adolescents regarding the program and its contents, using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Participated 99 adolescents (55 girls and 44 boys) from the ninth grade, divided into experimental (n = 74) and comparison (n = 25) groups. Results showed higher levels of self-esteem and satisfaction with life at posttest in the experimental group when compared to the comparison group, after controlling for the pretest. Taking in consideration the experimental group, gender was a predictor of program improvement on positive developmental dimensions, indicating a stronger effect on girls. Qualitative and quantitative results showed a positive appraisal of the program, with no gender differences in this appreciation. Findings support the importance of this program for the promotion of positive youth development.

Suggested Citation

  • Freire, Teresa & Lima, Isabel & Teixeira, Ana & Araújo, Marta Raquel & Machado, Alexandra, 2018. "Challenge: To Be+. A group intervention program to promote the positive development of adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 173-185.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:87:y:2018:i:c:p:173-185
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.035
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740917308927
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.035?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kyeong-Ho Cha, 2003. "Subjective Well-Being Among College Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 455-477, April.
    2. Susana Marques & Shane Lopez & J. Pais-Ribeiro, 2011. "“Building Hope for the Future”: A Program to Foster Strengths in Middle-School Students," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 139-152, March.
    3. Anat Shoshani & Sarit Steinmetz, 2014. "Positive Psychology at School: A School-Based Intervention to Promote Adolescents’ Mental Health and Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1289-1311, December.
    4. Forrest-Bank, Shandra S. & Nicotera, Nicole & Anthony, Elizabeth K. & Jenson, Jeffrey M., 2015. "Finding their Way: Perceptions of risk, resilience, and positive youth development among adolescents and young adults from public housing neighborhoods," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 147-158.
    5. Marta Bassi & Antonella Delle Fave, 2004. "Adolescence and the Changing Context of Optimal Experience in Time: Italy 1986–2000," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 155-179, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Page, Daniel & Hanrahan, Stephanie & Buckley, Lisa, 2023. "Real-world trial of positive youth development program “LifeMatters” with South African adolescents in a low-resource setting," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. L. Lambert & H.-A. Passmore & N. Scull & I. Al Sabah & R. Hussain, 2019. "Wellbeing Matters in Kuwait: The Alnowair’s Bareec Education Initiative," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 143(2), pages 741-763, June.
    2. Pandya, Samta P., 2023. "Adolescents raised by single parents: Examining the impact of spiritual education lessons on school connectedness, wellbeing, and resilience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    3. Matilde Bini & Lucio Masserini, 2016. "Students’ Satisfaction and Teaching Efficiency of University Offer," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(2), pages 847-862, November.
    4. M. Sirgy & Dong-Jin Lee & Stephan Grzeskowiak & Grace Yu & Dave Webb & Karma El-Hasan & Jose Jesus Garcia Vega & Ahmet Ekici & J. Johar & Anjala Krishen & Ayca Kangal & Bernhard Swoboda & C. Claiborne, 2010. "Quality of College Life (QCL) of Students: Further Validation of a Measure of Well-being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 99(3), pages 375-390, December.
    5. Shiri Lavy, 2020. "A Review of Character Strengths Interventions in Twenty-First-Century Schools: their Importance and How they can be Fostered," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(2), pages 573-596, April.
    6. Реан А. А. & Ставцев А. А., 2020. "Позитивные Психологические Интервенции Как Профилактика Школьного Неблагополучия, Агрессии И Буллинга," Вопросы образования // Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 3, pages 37-59.
    7. Worawan Chandoevwit & Kannika Thampanishvong, 2016. "Valuing Social Relationships and Improved Health Condition Among the Thai Population," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 2167-2189, October.
    8. Vincenza Capone & Mohsen Joshanloo & Miriam Sang-Ah Park, 2022. "Job Satisfaction Mediates the Relationship between Psychosocial and Organization Factors and Mental Well-Being in Schoolteachers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Keith J. Zullig & Robert F. Valois & Gerald R. Hobbs & Jelani C. Kerr & Daniel Romer & Michael P. Carey & Larry K. Brown & Ralph J. DiClemente & Peter A. Vanable, 2020. "Can a Multilevel STI/HIV Prevention Strategy for High Risk African American Adolescents Improve Life Satisfaction?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 417-436, February.
    10. Jayshree Jani & Dawnya Underwood & Jessica Ranweiler, 2016. "Hope as a Crucial Factor in Integration Among Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth in the USA: A Pilot Project," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1195-1209, November.
    11. Claudio Barbaranelli & Marinella Paciello & Valentina Biagioli & Roberta Fida & Carlo Tramontano, 2019. "Positivity and Behaviour: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy in Organisational and Educational Settings," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 707-727, March.
    12. Myeong-Ah Seo & Young-Jin Lim, 2019. "Optimism and life satisfaction in persons with schizophrenia living in the community," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(7-8), pages 615-620, November.
    13. Robert F. Valois & Jelani C. Kerr & Michael P. Carey & Larry K. Brown & Daniel Romer & Ralph J. DiClemente & Peter A. Vanable, 2020. "Neighborhood Stress and Life Satisfaction: Is there a Relationship for African American Adolescents?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(1), pages 273-296, March.
    14. Georgia Stephanou & Fotini Tsoni, 2019. "Effects of Metacognition on Performance in Mathematics and Language- Multiple Mediation of Hope and General Self-Efficacy," International Journal of Psychological Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(4), pages 1-30, December.
    15. C. Wickramasinghe & Nobaya Ahmad & Sharifah Rashid & Zahid Emby, 2011. "Impact of Subjective Well-Being on Success of Technological Knowledge Creation among Independent Inventors in Developing Countries: A First Look at Sri Lanka," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 2(3), pages 432-452, September.
    16. Wenjie Duan & Samuel Ho & Xiaoqing Tang & Tingting Li & Yonghong Zhang, 2014. "Character Strength-Based Intervention to Promote Satisfaction with Life in the Chinese University Context," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1347-1361, December.
    17. George-Laurentiu Serban-Oprescu & Silvia Dedu & Anca-Teodora Serban-Oprescu, 2019. "An Integrative Approach to Assess Subjective Well-Being. A Case Study on Romanian University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-27, March.
    18. Cole, Andrea & Ramirez, Luis Alfredo & Villodas, Melissa R. & Ben-David, Shelly & Munson, Michelle L., 2019. "“I want to rise above it all”: Perceptions of the neighborhood among young adults living in public housing," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 63-69.
    19. Ruta, Danny & Camfield, Laura & Donaldson, Cam, 2007. "Sen and the art of quality of life maintenance: Towards a general theory of quality of life and its causation," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 397-423, June.
    20. Weston, Kayla L. & Garst, Barry A. & Bowers, Edmond P. & Quinn, William H., 2021. "Cultivating knowledge of resiliency and reintegration among military youth through a national youth leadership program," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:87:y:2018:i:c:p:173-185. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.