Patterns of Organized Activity Participation in Urban, Early Adolescents

Abstract

This study examines patterns of organized activity and their concurrent association with academic achievement, problem behavior, and perceived adult support in a sample of urban, early adolescent, middle school students (mean age = 13.01; N = 2,495). Cluster analyses yielded six activity profiles: an uninvolved group ( n = 775, 31.1%), a multiply involved group ( n = 247, 9.9%), a sports group ( n = 469, 18.8%), a church group ( n = 486, 19.5%), a school and community clubs group ( n = 278, 11.1%), and a community clubs and sports group ( n = 240, 9.6%). These profiles are differentially associated with academic achievement, problem behavior, and adult support. While some form of organized activity is generally associated with more positive outcomes, the school and community and community and sports profiles also report the highest levels of delinquency, drug use, and school suspensions. Results support the utility of using person-centered approaches to studying youth-organized activities.