Youth belonging and cognitive engagement in organized activities: A large-scale field study

• We use multilevel modeling to examine correlates for youth belonging and cognitive engagement in organized activities.
• Staff welcoming practices positively predicted youth belonging.
• Provision for active skill-building positively predicted youth cognitive engagement.
• Intensity of exposure positively predicted belonging and cognitive engagement.
• Relations between staff practices and youth involvement experience were found to vary by content type

Numerous studies of organized activities have found that participation is associated with a range of positive outcomes; however, findings from recent randomized trials have been more mixed. Understanding youth's psychological experiences of program involvement – their cognitive and emotional reaction to and participation in activities – may be key to understanding the influence of organized activities. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to investigate correlates of youth belonging and cognitive engagement in a sample of 1160 youth in 123 program offerings in 66 sites. Results revealed that intensity (frequency) of exposure positively predicted belonging and cognitive engagement; however, duration was negatively associated with cognitive engagement. The staff practice of providing a welcoming atmosphere predicted belonging; whereas provision of active skill-building predicted cognitive engagement. These relations were found to vary across content type.