Adolescence (12-18 years)

Cultural responsiveness is a key aspect of the quality of organized activities, yet has rarely been examined.

High-quality youth development programs are commonly seen as beneficial to youth, and youth can participate in programs that either attempt to be ethnically neutral or encompass and embrace certain aspects of their ethnicity.

Early childbearing is associated with a host of educational and economic disruptions for teenage girls and increased risk of adverse outcomes for their children. Low-income, maltreated, and foster youth have a higher risk of teen motherhood than the general population of youth.

Early motherhood (defined as bearing a child prior to age 18 years) is a risk factor for many negative psychosocial and economic outcomes.

Physical activity-based positive youth development (PYD) programs are designed to nurture personal and social assets in youth, and in underserved populations, often provide unique opportunities for physical activity and mentoring.

Youth sport programs provide skill-building opportunities for youth, both physically and socially. In this study, youth and staff in a recurring summer physical activity youth program identified multiple ways that youth benefited on intra- and interpersonal levels.