Citation

Ma CM, Shek DT. Front. Public Health 2014; 2: 159.

Affiliation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong , China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Frontiers Editorial Office)

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2014.00159

PMID

25309895

Abstract

Using a cross-sectional design, this study (a) explores the prevalence of after-school activities among Chinese early adolescents and (b) assesses the relationships between participation in after-school activities, personal well-being, and family functioning. A total of 3,328 Grade 7 students (mean age = 12.59 years, SD = 0.74) completed a self-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS showed that the majority of adolescents returned home under adult supervision. Further analyses showed the associations between after-school activities, positive youth development qualities, academic and school competence, family functioning, and risky behavior. Implications regarding efforts aimed at designing high quality and structured after-school youth programs are discussed.

Language: en