Youth Development and Abstinence: Understanding the Link

1
Youth Development and Abstinence Understanding
the Link

• Stephen T. Russell, Ph.D.
• 4-H Center for Youth Development
• Department of Human and Community Development
• University of California, Davis

2
Positive Youth Development

• Caring adults engaged with youth in meaningful
  activities which foster the development of
  agency, connectedness, and competence.

3
Abstinence

• The skills and motivations to avoid health risk,
  and to make healthy choices

4
Why the Youth Development Approach?

• Historic emphasis of the 4-H Program
• life skills education
• career preparation
• leadership development
• Nonformal, meaningful, hands-on, science-based
  activities provide alternatives risk behavior and
  motivations to make healthy choices.

5
Youth development activities are beneficial
because they involve

• Personal choice
• Helps develop decision-making skills
• Helps youth clarify their ideas and values
• Hands-on learning
• Active engagement and learning
• Development of personal relationships
• Among young people
• Between youth and caring adults

6
Linking Abstinence andYouth Development
Healthy, engaged young person
Abstinence Prevention
Motivation Youth Development
7
Personal and Social Assets that Facilitate
Positive Youth Development

• Physical development
• Intellectual development
• Psychological and emotional development
• Social development

8
Features of Positive Developmental Settings

• Physical and psychological safety
• Appropriate structure
• Supportive relationships
• Opportunities to belong
• Support for efficacy and mattering
• Opportunities for skills building
• Positive social norms
• Integration of family, school, community efforts

9
Comparing FrameworksAssets that facilitate
youth development
10
Research linking youth development and
prevention Protective factors

• Positive orientation toward the future
• Plans for higher education
• Attachment to school
• Extracurricular activity involvement

11
Applying youth development strategies and elements

• Intellectual development
• Academic success
• Decision-making / reasoning skills
• Facing challenges / taking initiative
• Emotional development
• Close relationships with caring adults
• Family relationships

• Social development
• Citizenship and contribution
• Workforce preparation
• Connectedness
• Physical development
• Health behaviors

12
Youth Development and Abstinence

• Importance of early prevention
• Developmentally appropriate focus on abstinence
• Youth developmental approach as alternative or
  complementary to approaches that emphasize
  sexuality education

• Need for prevention in early childhood, middle
  and late adolescence
• In the focus on early prevention and after-school
  programs, we need to be sure not to overlook the
  needs of teens

13
Linking Sexual Health andPositive Youth
Development
Positive Youth Development
Prevention Education
Sexual Health
14
References