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The Determinants of Mexican-Origin Adolescents' Participation in Organized Activities: The Role of Culture, Settings, and the Individual

July 2007
June 2012
$470,000
Sandra Simpkins
Arizona State University
How do individual, family, peer, and activity indicators determine Mexican-origin adolescents’ participation in organized out-of-school activities? Latino youth, of whom 60 percent are Mexican origin, have the highest rates of school dropout and are often the least likely to participate in organized after-school activities. The researcher will examine the individual and contextual predictors of Mexican-origin adolescents’ participation in organized community-based programs and school-based extracurricular activities. For instance, Mexican-origin adolescents vary in terms of their orientation to mainstream American and Mexican cultural practices and beliefs, factors which may play a role in youth’s attitudes toward participation in out-of-school activities. Understanding and identifying the predictors of participation is vital for designing activities that effectively recruit and retain youth.
Focus Areas of this Grant
12 - 18
After-school, Cultural Contexts and Influences, Peers
Male, Female
Urban
Latino or Hispanic