The Value of Extracurricular Activities Among Latino Youth: Examining Educational, Cultural, and Risk Behavioral Factors

• In Event: 16.056 - Roundtable Session 4
  In Roundtable Session: 16.056-21 - Roundtable 3: Kindergarten Through Higher Education

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to examine factors that reflect Latino culture, language and heritage as influences on the importance of extracurricular activities in addition to behaviors that might deter adolescents from valuing these activities. Specifically, we examine the role of age, academic achievement, church attendance, language acculturation, family traditions, sexual activity, and gang involvement on the importance of participating in extracurricular activities. Results of 535 Latino adolescents indicate that older adolescents with higher academic aspirations and grades, and a stronger endorsement of family traditions were more likely to place a higher value in participating in extracurricular activities. For Latino adolescents valuing family traditions may include values of educación that are in line with educational success.

Authors

• Marbella Uriostegui, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Claudia Kouyoumdjian, California State University - Los Angeles

• Bianca Guzman, California State University - Los Angeles