School-Related Experiences and the Development of Purpose for Black Adolescents (Poster 41)

• In Event: Sunday Poster Session 7:45 am
  In Poster Session: Adolescence and Youth Development SIG Poster Session

Abstract

Part of the identity-formation process in adolescence includes acquiring a purpose. Purpose is developmentally adaptative, especially for Black adolescents navigating the complexities of development within oppressive systems.
This study of 151 Black adolescents uses statistical analysis to understand motivational and contextual predictors of purpose. Students who reported high motivation, in both school and non-school domains, were more likely to indicate having a purpose. Also, students who felt that they mattered to an adult in school reported higher purpose. Students who felt that their neighborhoods had less social capital reported a greater sense of purpose. Study aligns with a phenomenological understanding of identity development for Black youth and supports greater understanding of connections between school and youth development.

Author

• Esohe R. Osai, University of Pittsburgh