Extracurricular Activities and Disadvantaged Youth: A Complicated—But Promising—Story

Increased political and research interest in extracurricular activities stems, in part, from the claim that these programs especially benefit disadvantaged youth. However, little literature has synthesized studies across types of disadvantage to assess this claim. This article reviews research on di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Urban education (Beverly Hills, Calif.) Calif.), 2022-10, Vol.57 (8), p.1415-1449
Main Authors: Heath, Ryan D., Anderson, Charity, Turner, Ashley Cureton, Payne, Charles M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
After School Programs
At risk youth
Athletics
Disadvantaged
Disadvantaged Youth
Educational Benefits
Ethnicity
Extracurricular Activities
Gender Differences
Immigrants
Minority Group Students
Racial differences
Socioeconomic status
Status
Student Participation
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Summary:Increased political and research interest in extracurricular activities stems, in part, from the claim that these programs especially benefit disadvantaged youth. However, little literature has synthesized studies across types of disadvantage to assess this claim. This article reviews research on disadvantaged youth in extracurricular programs, including differences by gender, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and immigrant status. Our review reveals a promising, if complicated, picture. Although disadvantaged youth are less likely to participate in extracurricular activities, they often experience greater benefits, depending on the risk status and activity type. Evidence clearly supports expanding access to extracurricular programs for disadvantaged youth.
ISSN:0042-0859
1552-8340
DOI:10.1177/0042085918805797