Urban Adolescents' Out-of-School Activity Profiles: Associations with Youth, Family, and School Transition Characteristics

Abstract

This study applied individual growth trajectory analyses and person-oriented analysis to identify common profiles of out-of-school activity engagement trajectories among racially and ethnically diverse inner city teens (N = 1,430). On average, teens exhibited declining trajectories of participation in school-based and team sports activities and increasing trajectories of religious activity participation. A wide variety of patterns of participation, however, characterized individual teens' involvement across domains. Cluster analysis revealed 10 unique profiles that reflected varying levels of participation in school-based, religious, and team sports activities. Youth demographic characteristics, parental employment status, and school transition timing predicted activity profile membership. Unemployment predicted membership in profiles characterized by low or decreasing activity participation. Later school transitions were associated with membership in high participation profiles.