Abstract
This community-based study investigated whether (1) a novel sport psychology informed positive youth development program, My Strengths Training for Life™, improved resilience and well-being and (2) young people differed in outcomes according to demographics (gender, ethnicity, social inclusion, and learning difficulty). A total of 246 young people (M age = 19.74, SD = 2.31) living in a large housing service completed questionnaires on demographics, mental skills, and preand postprogram resilience and well-being. Baseline differences in resilience and well-being existed for ethnicity and learning difficulty status but did not influence MST4Life™ outcomes. There was a significant improvement in resilience and well-being over time, which was associated with mental skills development. Implications apply for policy, program commissioners, and research: (1) novel sport psychology interventions can improve the well-being of disadvantaged youth, and (2) demographics at baseline should be considered in intervention planning and evaluation with this population.
Highlights
Youth homelessness is a pressing societal issue in the United Kingdom
To extend the Positive youth development (PYD) literature, this study investigated whether young people: (1) differed in resilience, well‐being, and mental skills experiences based on gender, ethnicity, social inclusion status, and learning difficulty status, and (2) experienced an increase in resilience and well‐being after participating in the PYD program
The purpose of this study was to provide further theoretical and empirical contributions to the PYD literature by investigating whether (1) young people differed in resilience, well‐being, and mental skills experiences based on gender, ethnicity, social inclusion status, and learning difficulty status, (2) young people experienced an increase in resilience and well‐being after participating in MST4LifeTM, and (3) mental skills experiences were associated with resilience and well‐being
Summary
Youth homelessness is a pressing societal issue in the United Kingdom. The problem is exemplified by high economic costs (Pleace, 2015), and by this vulnerable group (aged 16–24) contributing to roughly half of those accessing England's homelessness services (Homeless Link, 2017). The main support needs (outside of their immediate need for housing) reported by homelessness providers about young people accessing their services include not being in education, employment, or training (NEET; 44%), a lack of independent living skills (41%), and poor mental health (35%; Homeless link, 2018). As trauma (e.g., homelessness and family breakdown) further disrupts this process of neurodevelopment (Roos et al, 2013) and increases the risk of mental and physical ill health later in life (Chapman et al, 2004; Kalmakis & Chandler, 2015), it is essential that targeted interventions help mitigate the negative effects of trauma and support these young people's awareness and development of essential psychosocial and independent living skills
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