Abstract
Young women in the juvenile justice system have high rates of prior physical and sexual abuse, substance use and psychiatric disorders. Understandably services usually are based on a therapeutic model to address those needs. Positive Youth Development (PYD) is a complementary alternative format that aims to provide resilience, life competencies, and self efficacy for pro-social actions. We provide a narrative review of PYD programs with a focus on how those relate to youth in closed custody. Sleep and physical activity are two behaviors where incarcerated young women still have personal agency, and we present the additional relevance of those program aspects. We describe methods and findings from a feasibility trial of an existing evidence-based, peer-led program for young women high school athletes used with incarcerated young women. Findings are placed in the context of established models of behavior change. The program was feasible and acceptable, and in this small trial, results demonstrate the format’s potential efficacy. PYD may provide a trajectory of success and assets that could durably assist these young women following incarceration.
Highlights
Young women in the juvenile justice system are a high-risk, vulnerable population largely hidden from public view [1]
We present a narrative review of Positive Youth Development (PYD) and a rationale for its use related to physical activity and sleep, two domains where incarcerated young women still have personal agency
In addition to direct personal benefits, PYD physical activity programs have demonstrated that group exercise sessions when structured to facilitate positive assets offer the opportunity to build social skills by providing a context that requires conflict resolution, cooperation, and, goal setting [66,67,68,69]
Summary
Young women in the juvenile justice system are a high-risk, vulnerable population largely hidden from public view [1]. We present a narrative review of PYD and a rationale for its use related to physical activity and sleep, two domains where incarcerated young women still have personal agency. In addition to direct personal benefits, PYD physical activity programs have demonstrated that group exercise sessions when structured to facilitate positive assets offer the opportunity to build social skills by providing a context that requires conflict resolution, cooperation, and, goal setting [66,67,68,69]. The starting point for a trial of a PYD informed program among incarcerated young women was an existing evidence-based program for female high school athletes called, ATHENA (Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise & Nutrition Alternatives). With peer-leaders, because actions are prompted, modeled and valued by others in the group, the social persuasion for change may be better internalized, enhancing durability of new abilities [80]
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